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Arsenal face talks with England over Oxlade-Chamberlain

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was in action for England's senior side against Estonia on Sunday © Getty Images

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Arsenal could be heading for another club versus country stand-off after Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain said he wants to play for England at next year's European Under-21 Championships.

England Under-21s manager Gareth Southgate has suggested that his side's chances would be stronger if some of the national team's senior players turned out for Euro 2015, with Liverpool's Raheem Sterling also reportedly keen to play and the Arsenal trio of Jack Wilshere, Calum Chambers and Oxlade-Chamberlain among those likely to be considered.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, however, this week reiterated his view that players who have appeared for the senior England side should not drop down to the Under-21s, claiming the move would be detrimental to their development.

Oxlade-Chamberlain said it would be difficult to turn down an England call-up next year but conceded talks between club and country would have to take place first.

"You'd never turn your nose up at something like that," Oxlade-Chamberlain told BT Sport. "But there's a lot that goes into that because the national team have two games around the same time as the tournament so it's up to Roy Hodgson to decide what he wants."

Players are eligible for the Under-21s if they were born on or after January 1, 1992, meaning someone could be over 23-years-old and still take part in the tournament when it kicks off in the Czech Republic next year. Oxlade-Chamberlain will be nearing his 22nd birthday next summer.

"When that time comes around I'll have to think about it," Oxlade-Chamberlain said. "Gareth [Southgate] might not even want me. It's a discussion that will be had closer to the time with the England manager, someone at Arsenal and Gareth Southgate."

Wenger has a history of feuds with England over the Under-21 issue. He was riled by former manager Stuart Pearce's attempts to call-up an 18-year-old Jack Wilshere to his squad for Euro 2011, with the midfielder having already been involved in Fabio Capello's senior squad in the second half of the season.

A similar row could be brewing this season, with England set to play a friendly against the Republic of Ireland on June 7 and a Euro 2016 qualifier in Slovenia on June 14. The European Under-21s Championship kicks off on June 17, raising the prospect of players appearing for both the senior squad and Under-21s in the same month.

"You know my thinking on that," Wenger said. "Once a guy has moved up to the full national team, you put him down [again to the Under-21] he is never good.

"Apart from on the selfish front for us when a guy has played 50 games, it is better a guy has a good rest during the summer. But most of the time, when they move down, they are not completely at their quality."

Former England striker Gary Lineker claimed on Thursday that a stance such as the Frenchman's is "selfish".

"Won't happen, but I wish Premier League managers would support their young players' international careers, not hinder them," Lineker tweeted in response to both Wenger's comments and similar words from Everton manager Roberto Martinez about youngster Ross Barkley. Lineker added:

All our star under 21 players should go to the finals next summer if fit. Wonderful tournament experience. Other countries insist on it.

— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) October 16, 2014

I get managers me, me, me attitude, but wouldn't it be refreshing if, for once, they thought about the good of the national game?

— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) October 16, 2014

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