Whilst most of the Arsenal fans here in the Transfer Tavern are looking ahead to a transfer window where they expect Arsene Wenger to strengthen, some are also eager to see those players in the squad finally nail-down a place in the first team.
One of those players is Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
The young Englishman has endured a roller-coaster time at Arsenal since moving to the capital from Southampton.
Following in the footsteps of Theo Walcott it was hoped that ‘The Ox’ would go on to be one of the key Gunners players given his huge potential on display with the Saints.
At times he’s done so too, he’s quick and clearly has an eye for a pass but what’s hampered him most is his injury record. You’d like to think if he could get over his injury woes he’d be pushing for a starting berth and it seems that his club think so too.
It’s up for debate how much longer the Gunners will wait for the ex-Southampton prodigy but for the time being they’re going too and our landlord thinks this is a good idea. Here are FIVE reasons why…
Evident talent
It’s not as though he’s had lots of chances afforded him and let the club down each time, he’s just been unfortunate with injuries.
Oxlade-Chamberlain is a classy player when fully fit and only bolsters Arsenal in the midfield positions. In a Premier League that looks to be getting increasingly competitive the Gunners would be silly to let a player of his ability go to another side when he has the talent to improve any club’s fortunes.
Versatile
‘The Ox’ can play out wide, in central midfield and as a number ten and this makes him arguably one of the most versatile players at the club.
Very few of the Gunners midfielders – as talented as they are – can operate in a number of positions well and this makes Oxlade-Chamberlain a real asset to Arsene Wenger. Finding a player that can play a number of roles well is hard to come by and Wenger must realise this.
Work rate
Oxlade-Chamberlain is a really hard worker.
It’s widely acknowledged now that a Premier League midfield needs a number of attributes. Passing ability, strength, goal-scoring and willingness to fight for the ball are key and it’s this last one that the former Southampton man epitomises perfectly.
He chases every ball in midfield and therefore gives the Gunners something they’ve lacked for some time now. Granit Xhaka has been brought in to help out in this regard but Wenger shouldn’t overlook Oxlade-Chamberlain’s attributes too.
Dribbling ability
As well as his work off of the ball he’s not bad with it.
The 22-year old started off as a winger at Southampton before being moulded into a more central player too but his dribbling instinct haven’t been lost on him.
This allows him to break from midfield from any section of the pitch getting Arsenal forward and this gives him another attribute the Gunners need – drive from midfield. ‘The Ox’ is one of the best at the club at carrying the ball forward and in the games Arsenal need to get up the pitch quickly this makes him an important option.
Shooting ability
Another quality the former Saints man possesses is his ability to strike from range.
It’s easy to compare him to Theo Walcott given their careers have taken similar routes but the second former Saint is evidently a more well rounded player.
He can score a variety of different goals from various positions and it makes sense that the Gunners keep him.
Even if he only comes off of the bench as he regains fitness he’ll soon be knocking on the first team door.
