We need to talk about the OX.

[Sanj]

Before the season started, I had high expectations for Chamberlain this season and really expected him to kick on and become a first team regular and really show us his talent, and he started well with that goal against the Chelsea scum, but ever since then, he has been utterly average and at times, utterly awful. When he came on against Villa, his performance just pissed me off, his final touch always let him down and could not find an end product of any note.

Joel Campbell has jumped ahead of the OX in the pecking order, and with Alexis coming back, Chamberlain falls further behind, if anything he is lucky to be so close to the first team considering how bad his performances have been, he can thank the ridiculous amount of injuries we have, I guess for that. I think what the OX really needs is a loan spell, he needs to go to another Pl team and play every game in order to build his confidence and actually develope.

 

[TheBear]

I have completely lost patience with him.

All the talent in the World but he rarely delivers. We see glimpses.. He sprints past players or splits defences with a bit of skill but his end product is woeful. Truly awful. He has averaged 2 premier league goals a Season since he joined us and he gets virtually no assists.

The Ox is still young enough to realise his potential. But he is just too inconsistent and delivers to rarely to warrant a place in our team.

 

[PINKIE]

Campbell has come on really well since he was given a chance in the team, his performance against Olympiacos was brilliant. I wouldn't write the Ox off though, as he's been in and out of the team with injury. I think he also needs a run in the team to prove himself, but Campbell is keeping him out at the moment. What the Ox does really well though, is to burst through defences and carry the ball really well with him, but he really needs to improve on his final ball. We were all saying the same things about Walcott a few season ago though.

 

[bobo_97]

A loan would be good for HIM but bad for Arsenal as we always have injuries. Bit of catch 22 there I think.

 

[lazarus20000]

I fear that most of our talented English players are failing to meet expectations, with only Walcott making the grade. Oxo has the talent but he doesn't justify his place based on his consistency. Wenger has given our English players more chances than the rest but we've seen most of them replaced by non English players. I don't think he has any choice but to play Campbell over him, he just offers more at the moment and this is not a charity.

 

[lazarus20000]

Campbell has come on really well since he was given a chance in the team, his performance against Olympiacos was brilliant. I wouldn't write the Ox off though, as he's been in and out of the team with injury. I think he also needs a run in the team to prove himself, but Campbell is keeping him out at the moment. What the Ox does really well though, is to burst through defences and carry the ball really well with him, but he really needs to improve on his final ball. We were all saying the same things about Walcott a few season ago though.

This is testament to Walcott, he has upped his game and justified his inclusion. He's adapted his play on the wings, improved his ball control and passing. He's even become stronger and improved in the cf position.

 

[PeterRICK]

He definitely needs an extended run in the side but so far his end result doesn't justify the liabililty that using him creates. I don't think Arsene trusts him to be in front of Bellerin because of a: Hector often being out of position and b: AOC not contributing (well) defensively. It's why I believe he's moved Walcott to the left recently as he trusts Monreal far more in defence and Campbell on the right tries his hardest to track back and help Bellerin.

He has the potential to be an amazing player, just needs the consistency. Time is on his side, his problem with us is that he has a few players performing at a high/higher level ahead of him so his chances will be fleeting.

 

[afcftw]

Despite me normally being very positive about our players Oxo is one I got on his back long before everyone else did. I've been going on about his defensive naivity for ages and suggesting that is why Ramsey has been in the team on the wing (while others called for oxo) and it's clear for all that his end product is severely lacking.

But he has shown that he has ability, he can go past his man, and if he could improve his game he may well turn into a quality player. Not sure if he will make that step or not though, we shall have to wait and see.

I will say though that I massively rated Campbell as a youth, kept track of his loan spells and really thought he'd break into the team. But it's taken him ages to show it in the first team, he didn't take the early chances given to him after his World Cup heroics and everyone basically wrote him off. Now he is showing his true quality. So let's not lose hope with the Ox just yet.

 

[Smirnoffpriest]

I've very frustrated and disappointed with Oxo this season, especially since our injury crisis and the massive opportunities he's had to nail a place in the team. He looked one of our best players in pre-season, did well in the Charity Shield and scored a good goal, and it lead me to believe he was finally ready to show his true potential and also give a good end product.

But instead he wasn't trusted in the early games and when he came off the bench he looked poor, continuing to give the ball away in dangerous positions and running down blind alley ways.

It's such a shame as he's got a high work ethic, is usually involved a lot on the right, beats a man, has lots of skills - but has never shown it consistently or delivered a good end product.

But lots of players have been written off for Arsenal and become key players, so there's still time for him. It's hugely frustrating at the minute though...

 

[lazarus20000]

I can't imagine why OXO can't upping his game similarly to Walcott, who has improved in areas that he was weak in. He was accused of running down blind alleyways too, but is much more productive on the wings. In my opinion, OXO is a more complete and skilful player to Walcott, but it appears he is struggling to live up to expectations. It must be a mental thing with him.

 

[PeterRICK]

I do have sympathy. His big chance was when Aaron got injured and he goes an nobbles himself almost immediately. At the time I doubt we'd have even really considered using Joel over him. As others say let's keep the faith, so many of our team have turned it on when you least expect it. Coquelin, Campbell, Ramsey (re-turned!) etc.

 

[PINKIE]

As others say let's keep the faith, so many of our team have turned it on when you least expect it. Coquelin, Campbell, Ramsey (re-turned!) etc.

And often turned it on when some of out fans have turned on them,

Ox has still got plenty of time to come good

 

[BrunelGooner]

I remember when both Frimpong and Coquelin came onto the scene and I always felt that the latter had the makings of a top player. I was actually baffled as to why we loaned him out regularly because whenever he performed for us, he looked like a good player. But I guess for whatever reason, Wenger didn't see him in his plans and it didn't help that his career was stagnated by being shifted around in different positions at different clubs. But he's here now and he is a vital cog in our team.

Ramsey was a different case, though. Although some of the criticism directed toward him from the fans was unwarranted, the frustration was understandable because he had underperformed for two seasons. I remember in the Summer of 2013 where he was allegedly about to go on loan to Fulham (a move which I supported at the time when I heard it) but he said he wanted to fight for his place into the Arsenal team. We were all stunned with his subsequent performances because he had been so distinctly average for two years. But then there were fans (to paraphrase) saying stuff like "I knew we should have kept faith in him and the critics look really stupid now". Comments like that irritated me because, although everything he touched turned to gold that season, that doesn't mean that criticism for his form in preceding seasons was wrong. Now he's also a very important player for us (albeit he's not hit the heights of that 2013-14 season again).

As for Campbell, he's performed well, but the jury is still out.

 

[BrunelGooner]

In regards to Ox, I am a big fan of him, but he has massively disappointed me so far. As has already been said, he looked like he was about to really push on, based on his pre-season performances. But he's either been hampered by injury, not had a regular run in the side or has been pretty poor when he has started.

He seems to dribble without purpose and loses possession very easily, which is very unlike him. One of his strengths was his acceleration when driving at the opposition but even that seems to have gone from his game. He's not playing with the confidence that he used to.

I guess the factors stated above have played a role in his shocking form, but should it really affect him to this extent?

My view is we should still keep him because he still has the raw qualities to be a massive player for us, and he is only 22, but he needs to step it up soon otherwise he will fall further down the pecking order. The fact that Campbell has overtaken him should really be motivating him to raise his game.

 

[cini65]

Saying we shouldn't criticise players when playing poorly because they MIGHT turn amazing is illogical nonsense as it means there shouldn't be criticism of any player ever because theoretically any player could turn it on.

At some point there has to be criticism if it's warranted. Some of it for some players has been poisonous in the past, but there are a lot of people and posters who use that past poison as a way of accusing anyone with any negative comments as being unwarranted. These are the ones who excuse mediocrity and talk nonsense.

 

[cini65]

And Oxlade... There's time for him yet. He has more base ability than Walcott so if Walcott can become a useful first teamer then so can Oxlade. But he's running out of time. Give him at least til end of 2016/17. Wilshere I've got less time for. He's not young anymore, he's not reliable and he's not had consistent bouts of good form every anyway. If he's not back playing well by end of season I'd sound out City for a big offer and buy a CM who can actually play for a significant chunk of a season.

 

[TheBear]

I remember when both Frimpong and Coquelin came onto the scene and I always felt that the latter had the makings of a top player. I was actually baffled as to why we loaned him out regularly because whenever he performed for us, he looked like a good player. But I guess for whatever reason, Wenger didn't see him in his plans and it didn't help that his career was stagnated by being shifted around in different positions at different clubs. But he's here now and he is a vital cog in our team.

Ramsey was a different case, though. Although some of the criticism directed toward him from the fans was unwarranted, the frustration was understandable because he had underperformed for two seasons. I remember in the Summer of 2013 where he was allegedly about to go on loan to Fulham (a move which I supported at the time when I heard it) but he said he wanted to fight for his place into the Arsenal team. We were all stunned with his subsequent performances because he had been so distinctly average for two years. But then there were fans (to paraphrase) saying stuff like "I knew we should have kept faith in him and the critics look really stupid now". Comments like that irritated me because, although everything he touched turned to gold that season, that doesn't mean that criticism for his form in preceding seasons was wrong. Now he's also a very important player for us (albeit he's not hit the heights of that 2013-14 season again).

As for Campbell, he's performed well, but the jury is still out.

Really? I was never impressed with Coquelin back in the day. For me his emergence has been a massive surprise. He seemed like another Denilson: not quite a playmaker and not quite defensive enough to be a DM. But he has really improved physically which has allowed him to adapt to the DM role.

On the other side of things I couldn't really understand the impatience with Ramsey because it was always clear he had great technical ability. I feel the same way about Wilshere actually. If he can get fit and have run of games I am confident he will be a top player.

Campbell really needs to add more goals and assists to move up a level.

 

[PINKIE]

Really? I was never impressed with Coquelin back in the day. For me his emergence has been a massive surprise. He seemed like another Denilson: not quite a playmaker and not quite defensive enough to be a DM. But he has really improved physically which has allowed him to adapt to the DM role.

On the other side of things I couldn't really understand the impatience with Ramsey because it was always clear he had great technical ability. I feel the same way about Wilshere actually. If he can get fit and have run of games I am confident he will be a top player.

Campbell really needs to add more goals and assists to move up a level.

Agree with all of this. Although I would say that Campbell has done really well already and if he keeps up this form, will become a really good quality player.

 

[lazarus20000]

Well a lot of players have the skill and potential but don't always translate it to top level stuff. I always thought Ramsey was good and had it in him to be a top player, but you can't discount the average at best 2 years he had before he upped it. As fans, we have every right to scrutinise players that are underperforming. But as fans we want every player to get a fair run and hope they fulfil their potential with us. The same goes for OXO, Welbeck, Wilshere and Gibbs.

 

[PeterRICK]

Think the issue with Aaron was because he'd looked so promising right up until he got Shawcrossed. Nobody disputes how cack he was when he returned but I think most attributed it down to a psychological issue with him. Got to say that by the end of the second year my patience was hanging by a thread!