Actually Toledo .. yes it is, there are players all over the place if Arsenal open their eyes. Other teams seem to manage to pick them up perfectly well
Well it is fair to say that starting OXO could be a catalyst to bigger things. Rosicky and Arteta pull the midfield strings, Blackburn didn't offer anything going forward which allowed Song to do what he wanted, against better teams he won't be so free to do what he wants, but Oxo has justified the money.
OXO looks like the real deal. To play such a mature and dominant game in only your second premiership match is impressive. Agreed theHotHead, i think OXO is already having some sort of impact on us. He really does seem to have it all, speed, skill, dribbling, creativity and vision. This is what Arshavin should be doing, instead OXO is fullfilling his role. OXO seems perfect for our style of play who equally plays at ease on the wing as well as in the middle. OXO and RVP already seem so comfortable with each other, the only other guy is Walcott fully adapting to it. I have more confidence going into the Milan match now...
Wenger says Oxo only looked junior in September. ??? WTF is he on? We all wanted him played he was often not even on the bench.
I just read Wenger's quote, "Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is developing well, and he can assist and score as well. What is surprising to me is in September he looked junior, not mature enough, but in space of two-to-three months he is ready to be in the team." Good grief, sometimes he talks a load of balls doesn't he. How can anyone suddenly become "mature" and "ready" after a couple of months. He was good enough to play back in September but he was too stubborn to bring him on instead of Arshavin. It's loyalty towards Arshavin that stopped OXO from playing. If it wasn't for Arshavin's poor season, he wouldn't have bothered to play OXO, maybe he would have been loaned out....
You're right. It's not as if Wenger was managing him, and was in any better position than us to gauge his maturity and readiness to be play.
And practically all those teams are below us in the league. All the players people keep naming are backups to RVP or backups to Song, probably the two best players in our team. Very few are full backs, wingers or creative midfield players.
Your sarcasm doesn't make Wenger's statement true. Wenger was forced to play OXO due to desperation more than OXO being "mature" or "ready". Arshavin playing poorly, Gervinho being in the African nations and our lack of quality in the squad is the main reason why OXO is playing. Wenger has his reasons for saying what he did its unfortunate that you haven't picked up on how he operates.
Crumbs. Oxo's attacking prowess has never been the problem. It was his tracking back and defending that was why he didn't play at the start of the season. Now that he's worked on that, and got stronger, he's ready to play. It's amazing that at the start of the season people are slating Wenger for signing him, now they're slating him for not playing him. People didn't want him, now they can't do without him.
Chamberlain did play in the centre at youth level. More as a number 10 with the freedom to roam and dribble like Fabregas or Nasri rather than a conventional CM. It's a position he has in his locker, which he might well start to play for Arsenal as he grows in confidence. I do worry that he mgiht not keep his place when Gervinho gets back as I do feel Wenger has only put him in because Arshavin has been turd. There's no doubt that Chamberlain deserves to keep his place based on recent form. I know he isn't a Southampton player anymore, but I do enjoy seeing former graduates like Walcott, Bale, Chamberlain, Surman, Dyer, Best etc doing well. Also our genius chairman negotiated a 40% sell-on clause, so we're in for a windfall if he makes it huge and moves for an unholy amount of cash.
He looks very skilled for an english player, you guys did an amazing job with him. The two games i've seen him play for Arsenal, i've seen him move into the center for us and look very good. That through ball to Walcott in his first game was excellent. He clearly has the technical ability to play as an attacking midfielder, a position that hasn't been filled fully from Fabregas's departure.
If he didn't think he was mature or ready to play, Arshavin would still be playing instead of him; that's how Wenger works. It's unfortunate that you haven't picked up on how he operates. The difference between him being forced to play him and OC having an opportunity to prove himself is massive, mentally. If Chamberlain was put in to the squad under pressure, expected to perform, we probably wouldn't be seeing what we are.
He would be under pressure to perform whether it was early or now. However, we will never know as OXO wasn't given the opportunity early on, but that is no longer important now. One thing is clear, he is a very skilled and mature player for his age. To be one of the best players for us in his two league games is quite something. The technical skill he was showing in both games was at a high level. He was swtiching between left wing and central attacking midfield with ease. RVP was linking up with him very well. Im looking forward to seeing him play in Europe...
What do you mean Wenger can be too slow in bringing players into the 1st team?? Not long ago he was criticized for playing boys. Now he is too slow to play them.
This may be a moot point but I seem to recall AOC's fitness being questioned when we signed him by Saints fans. Wasn't it the case that he never completed more than 50-60 minutes (per game) of football? It may well be that they were working hard to get his physique up to scratch before he was considered for the first team. However, as I have no idea what goes on behind the doors at Arsenal beyond speculation, I shall never know for sure. Long story short. he's quite good... hooo-ray.
Look am not trying to big him up to much but he remind me of a very young Leo Messi. Don't laugh am not saying he going to be like Messi or anything like that but Messi use to play on the right and he's left footed. Ox play on the left and he's right footed both run at players got good control, see a pass link up well in the final third and score goals with very little back lift. He's got exceptional technique, a good football brain, a great deal of pace, a good physique and a lot of confidence. Yes he's only played 10 games and I am not saying he as good that would make me mad we hope he will be for Arsenal and England but he definitely got the potential to. Six years ago we all saw Leo on the wing now he's in the false number ten role, Arsene has said he wants to play him in a more central role in the future do you think that's what he has plan for him? Like I said POTENTIAL.
