The Arsenal and England international star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could well be set to feature in his third game in the space of a week tomorrow evening, when Olympiacos come to town for the second round of Champions League group games.
He had mixed fortunes in his previous two appearances, scoring an unlucky own goal in Zagreb but then producing the fierce shot that the Spurs keeper could only parry into the path of Flamini in the north London derby. The Ox has been looking strong and sharp this season, despite not being a regular starter and he has revealed that the Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez is a big factor behind his form.
In a statement reported by Arsenal.com today, Chamberlain spoke about how he gains inspiration from his Chilean team mate, in just about every aspect of him as a player.
The young Gunner said, “The one thing I would say about Alexis is that he’s one of the most passionate and hungry individuals I know. As a player, he brings out the best of you in training every day and also in the matches.
“If he knows when he’s not at his best, which is rare, he’ll always push himself to do as well as he can and he demands a lot of himself.
“To look at how many goals he scored last year makes it hard for me not to learn from him. It’s his everyday mannerisms around the training ground, how he trains, his performances, how he scores goals, how he plays and how he defends from up front.
“These are all things that we can all learn, that everyone who watches football could learn from. I’ve definitely put myself in the bracket of somebody who learns from him every day.
“He’s someone that loves football, just loves playing and being involved in and around football. That comes out in training.
“He’s very passionate, very upbeat and is a massive character in the team. For someone who doesn’t have amazing English, he manages to communicate so well to all of us and keep the dressing room upbeat. That’s what I mean by his mannerisms and how positive he is around the team.”
The two have similar styles of playing as well as physiques and so Alexis does seem to be the perfect role model for the Ox. And it could well be paying off, according to Kieran Gibbs. The defender said on the Arsenal website that, although he feels his international team mate still needs to be playing more to really hit top form, Chamberlain has clearly been training harder and is in better condition than ever, as well as being encouraged by Alexis to express himself on the pitch.
Gibbs said, “He’s in the best shape he’s ever been in physically and the more minutes he gets, the more dangerous he’s going to be,” the England defender said. “That’s what I feel he needs at the moment, more game time.
“The situations he is getting into on the pitch will come more naturally to him and his goalscoring is going to be a bit like Aaron’s. At first it was difficult for Aaron to find the net but then all of a sudden it just clicks and I don’t think he’s going to stop scoring.
“You’ve got players like Alex who you know can change a game and you have to encourage him to express himself, to do whatever he can, whatever he feels is right to do, as long as the players aren’t doing the opposite to him. It’s always encouraged by us and the manager.”
Has Ox got the ability and attitude to become as good as Alexis?
I would love, if it were possible to put out eleven players with the heart and never say die attitude of alexis sanchez every week! Coyg!
I saw the same attitude in Joel Campbell
A lot of fans have been quick to write him off. But he’s a very hard worker who’s still very young.
After so many short loan spells it was always going to take him a while to come back to the premier league and play for a club like Arsenal. His performances for Costa Rica were outstanding, and you could see that when he was a vital player in the team with more responsibility it reflected in his performances. Hopefully with a bit more confidence we’ll see a different player, because mentally he seems beyond his years.
I love Ox… A few lapses in concentration during pre-season is excusable. But surely Wenger had words to him about a big need for that to improve.. The fact that it’s still an issue in competitive matches is cause for concern, especially when it’s in only 20 or so minutes game time. He’s fit, he’s explosive and the ability to beat his man is only really bettered by Sanchez… I’d of thought he’d be taking his chances in the squad more convincingly…
Most probably Campbell will play tonight. I guess we will see because I am not sure he can replace anyone either on the flank or in the middle.
I think that the Ox is the only person holding himself back. To use one of Arsene’s sayings he’s still playing with the handbrake on.
I can see his confidence growing but he’s got to try and express himself more. Find his own style of playing just as Ozil, Alexis, Cazorla, Ramsey and Coq have. It’s time for Alex to take that same step.
It’s not what he does with the ball at his feet that’s been the issue. It’s when he doesn’t have it.
We can afford to have high-risk, high reward kind of players in attack. But not when they repetitively lose the ball in dangerous positions and neglect their defensive duties…
Not trying to slag him off as a player. But for such a great prospect, there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be taking the chances he’s being given more convincingly…
OT
One Day an ALL ENGLISH super Arsenal team
Macey
Jenkison/Chambs/Hayden/Gibbs
Wilshere
OX/Crowley/Welbeck
Walcott Akpom
In my dreams i guess….. good dreaming though.