All these players people keep wanting to sell, and so easy to get replacements...

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.
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.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....
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![]()
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.
Yeah outside of Chelsea City and Man U we definitely have the best full backs wingers and creative midfielders in the world. There's no way we can possibly improve![]()
He most definitely assisted van Persie for the goal against Man Utd.
He's not a world beater at this stage, but everyone can see how much potential he has. He's direct - runs at players, and can beat them with both tricks and pace. He's naturally more of a CM than a winger.
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.
Yeah,well our academy is pretty good now,it's getting even better nowHe 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.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.
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.
I think there's truth in what you both say. What makes it moot however, is that Oxo IS mentally and physically ready to play and kick off his career. I would argue that but for ACON and Arshavin being utterly ****e he would not now be given the chance because Wenger can be too slow in bringing players into the 1st team.