Time for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain needs to show ability at Arsenal
By Joe Lobo
It doesn't take much to excite your average football fan. A goal from a player they have just drafted into their fantasy team, a rival's star player straining a muscle mid-match or even one of their own stars tweeting a hashtag after a victory. But what really gets fans going is seeing one of their own young players blossom before their eyes on the game's biggest stage. Arsenal's aggregate defeat to AC Milan in the 2012 Champions League had fans talking about one player: Alex Oxlade Chamberlain.
The 18 year old possessed everything you want in an attacking midfielder during that 3-0 win. Pace, dribbling, creativity and that intangible ability to make things happen out of nothing - see that run to win the penalty for Arsenal's third goal. The Ox had been unleashed.
Four years on and the big question is whether or not that is still Oxlade-Chamberlain's best performance in an Arsenal shirt. The club's official website describes him as a "key member of the squad". But is he? He is clearly not as valued as the likes of Mesut Ozil or Alexis Sanchez. What about Aaron Ramsey or Theo Walcott? Or even in recent months, Joel Campbell? The Ox's predicted rampage through the world's midfield and defences has stalled amid injuries, growing pains and an uncertainty over his best position.
Oxlade-Chamberlain's goal in last weekend's 2-0 over Bournemouth was noteworthy for some unwanted reasons. It was his first league goal in 16 months and his first ever away goal in nearly five seasons at the club. In front of goal he's been heavily unreliable but he's been able to compensate for that by being one of the few Arsenal players to really run at the opposition on a regular basis to open things up for teammates.
The problem is fans have seen fewer of those performances while he has developed a worrying carelessness with the ball in key areas. The most famous example being against Olympiakos last season when Oxlade-Chamberlain relinquished possession in the dying moments to concede a crucial late goal, having just scored a stunner himself to bring the Gunners back in. On a number of occasions this season he has given the ball away and failed to track back adequately. For a player Arsene Wenger sees as the club's future central midfielder this is a concern.
The Englishman has been quick to acknowledge that his confidence has been dented this season. Some of the blame must fall to Wenger and his failure to play Oxlade-Chamberlain in one position. Most of his matches have seen him out on the right but against Stoke he was asked to play an advanced central role and in others he's played a deeper position. There is a danger he could be to Arsenal what Steven Gerrard and Paul Scholes were to England. Players who were victims of their versatility, required to plug whatever hole needs filling in midfield. Wenger needs to decide where Oxlade-Chamberlain's future lies and give him an extended run there sooner rather than later.
This brings us to another problem for Oxlade-Chamberlain: he simply hasn't played enough games to allow him to develop. Midway through his fifth season, the 22 year old has managed just 48 starts in 99 matches. Since we English always like to compare ourselves to the Germans, let's have a look at how three of their World Cup winners' first five seasons stack up against the Ox:
Thomas Muller 119 starts in 134 matches
Toni Kroos 77 starts in 110 matches
Mario Gotze 86 starts in 110 matches
In his defence, the litany of muscle-related injuries Oxalde-Chamberlain's experienced has hampered his progress at the worst moments. His excellent performance against Manchester Utd in last season's FA Cup ended with the familiar sight of Oxlade-Chamberlain hobbling off with a muscle strain.
But with 13 league games left this season and a right-wing berth which is very much up for grabs, Wenger owes it to Oxlade-Chamberlain to give him the playing time he needs to show the world he can fulfil his vast potential.