Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has already had a pretty good season for Arsenal, on a personal level at least. The 21-year old has already played more Premier League games than last season and has missed just one of the Champions League games, also scoring in both competitions.
He may have had to move around the pitch, playing in central midfield as well as both flanks and in the forward line, but Chamberlain has done well in them all. He may not have had the chances, however, if it was not for the terrible run of injury problems that have forced Arsene Wenger to keep shuffling his Arsenal pack to somehow find a Gunners starting XI.
And even though it looks like those injury issues are easing and there is a good chance the Ox may find himself on the bench more often, the England international is over the moon to see the likes of Walcott, Giroud and Debuchy coming back, because he reckons that with a fitter squad, Arsenal will be ready to really push on after christmas and put the iffy first half of the season behind us.
In the meantime, there are a few big games to get through and we really need Chambo to get over his minor groin problem to help us do that. But he seems confident that the Gunners that are fit are more than capable of getting us to the new year with no more dramas.
He told the Evening Standard, “There have been a lot of players working really hard — we see them out on the pitch and they look like they are getting stronger and stronger. To get Debuchy back is a massive lift for us because he is an international defender who brings a lot to our side. He brings a lot of experience and character so it is really good to have him back.
“Olivier can bring us goals and is a great target to hit up front. He is another massive threat going forward. We have a lot of players still coming back. Theo is not far — he is just coming back from a long knee injury and I know myself having come back from one that you do find little niggles here and there. It is just managing that for him and he will be back and firing on all cylinders soon.
“There are a number of others coming back and it seems like everyone is coming back at the right time for us. The players we have got fit at the moment are more than capable of getting the results we need in the weekends to come and to have other players coming back from injury is a bonus.”
So Gooners, do you think Arsenal’s second half will be enough to make up for the first?
As others come back, others get injured. Its called Isostasy. Only one who is ever there, yet is of least help, is Wenger 🙁 🙁
But I sure long to see Ozil with front three of Theo, Alexis n Welbeck……………………………………………………………………………………………………… minus Wenger at the sidelines 😀 😀 😀
#long live Pythagoras
#short live Wenger’s reign
He’s trying to cement a place in the starting 11 the wrong way
I think isostasy is a bad analogy. I would liken our injury crisis to a lottery, a numbers game, not knowing who or how many will come out next.
i’m sure we’ll get to 4. thats all that matters it seems.
Thank you OX, you are integral to this team…….. But could you please take it easy and stop talking to the media 4 a while ????
OX is right… I believe we will do things at the 2nd half of the season,
Evry player returning from injury has proved to be better, and I’m impressed with the team…
Let’s see how it goes
Agree with Pi with his isostasy
analogy. The Arsenal injury
list never shortens. As some
recover so some are injured.
If we had our top 22 fit
fiiring and rotating Arsenal would
be on the pace all season.
Thanx pal, and I also long to see the squad with, if any,a maximum 3 injuries at any one time.
I don’t know why the management is sooo slow in tackling that issue
#long live davidnz
#long live pythagoras
#short live wenger’s reign
thumbs down already?? 🙁
did I say something wrong?? 🙁 who doesn’t want us to have a max three players out, if any, at any given moment??
I gez I am just hated n woteva I say, I will be thumbed down. 🙁 🙁 🙁 But I won’t hate back, my heart is snow-white. No hatred. I love ya’ll
#long live just arsenal
#long live just arsenal haters
#long live Pythagoras, the cool loving guy
#short live Wenger’s reign
We won a couple of games, all of a sudden Wenger’s farts don’t smell.
You have to be used to the fickleness of Arsenal fans by now…
Not gonna speculate much on this. We looked good against Galatasaray and Newcastle, but before that was Stoke.
It is good though to hear that Ox is seeing other players work hard. But actions speak louder than words. Let’s hope that translate on the pitch Sunday.
OX, listen to me nw.
Stop talking to the media and go talk to alexis on how you can be as good as him.
Actually Sanchez has been
a positive influence on Ox
Sanchez is a risk taker,
likes to attack and score goals.
Ox is the same but younger and rough
around the edges but he too has that
cavalier attiude that any thing is possible.
He sees in Sanchez what he wants to do and
seeing Sanchez score goals justifies that attitide.
I think it must be working with our new Medical staff.. Giroud came back ahead of schedule. Debuchy too. Ozil looks like he is back ahead of schedule too..
Now work on Kossy, Wilshere, Walcott and Ramsey…
😉
and to work on how to prevent so many injuries in the first place
Yes. If we have all players available, then we will have stunning second half.
But yes one player available then the other are getting injured. Koschielmy is the biggest loss to me.
Even now we are without 6 top class player
1. Koschilemy. 2. Ramsey. 3 Walcot. 4 . Ozil. 5 Jack. 6 Arteta.
This is unbelievable.
We need Kosch back ASAP, then we can really push.
You just raped Koscielnys name. 😀
Ox talks too much, and everytime he does before the game, we flop
If we had the same quantity of injuries last year, we’d be at bottom league-
Our bigger squad has been huge help, and at least in midfield and strikers we can put a good team on the pitch-
We are looking much more threatening with Giroud back-
Well get another big boost when Kolchelny returns-
And I think we will have a good 2nd half of season-
COYG!
Third and fa cup are possible. Beating Monaco is also possible although it will be tough. We may have a bit of a mental block concerning CL next round as its been a long time since we last made it. If we do improve greatly at least the team will be better equipped for next season. Whether we admit or not we had many new faces this season and Sanchez is the only one who needed no bedding in period. That said our biggest problems were injuries and a lack of cover. I can only presume that wont be the case next season, lack of cover of course as i fully expect us to be crippled with injuries.
Interestingly some lucky CL team is going to draw Basel or Porto in next round. As well not a bad draw will be one of Juventus or Dortmund. Third in difficulty may be Leverkusen or A Madrid with many predicting Madrid im sure. The CL giants will be looking at it the same way except they will have the Arsenal or Monaco in there somewhere.