Arsene Wenger admits he “can understand” Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s frustrations at Arsenal.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has started just three of the Gunners’ eight Premier League games so far this season, and has found game time difficult to come by.
He has still played fewer league minutes than Rob Holding (268 to 270), and has even discussed potentially leaving the club in order to find first-team football elsewhere.
The 23-year-old is bang out of form, but manager Wenger is keen to keep him.
“I can understand,” said Wenger of Oxlade-Chamberlain’s frustrations.
“But, on the other hand, you buy a young player at 17 years of age, you spend a lot of money on him, so then you would like him to stay. I think his place is here.
“I rate him as a player and I hope he will show he can have a stable position in the team until the end of the season.
“This season he has been similar to Theo Walcott but he has not been rewarded yet. He is in a similar position because he has worked really hard.
“What I have seen in Theo is he lets the passion for the game come out of his body.”