Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has admitted that he will have to hold back midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the coming weeks, or risk the player suffering burnout.

Oxlade-Chamberlain, 18, has been in imperious form of late and scored a double in the 7-1 victory over Blackburn on Saturday afternoon.

Gunners boss Wenger has insisted, however, that he will not run the risk of overplaying his young talent.

"That's what happened to us last year with Jack Wilshere, it was exactly the same. At the start of the season you think, 'I will play him 20 games, maybe 25'. But when they deliver a performance like Saturday's they play 45 and then they play for the national team and then they get injured," Wenger told The Sun.

"It's very difficult to manage because people understand very quickly what kind of influence the players have. You want to win the game so you play them."

Arsenal travel to Sunderland in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.