Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has revealed that he was inspired as a youngster by Thierry Henry and Gianfranco Zola.
Revealing that he was something of a late developer (cough) when growing up, the 18-year-old midfielder, who has drawn lazy comparisons with Theo Walcott since arriving from Southampton, confirmed he deliberately kept an eye on Chelsea’s legendary frontman because of his pint-size status, while also stressing an admiration for Gunner Henry.
Speaking to Arsenal fans in China via a webchat, the England under-21-year-old revealed his childhood idols:
“For me it was Thierry Henry. I think him and Gianfranco Zola.
“Zola was quite similar to me because he was small, and I was one of the smallest growing up.
“I used to watch him a lot, and of course Thierry because he was unbelievable. He just used to score every week – Match of the Day just used to be him scoring goals for fun.”
A stocky figure measuring 5ft 11inches tall, Chamberlain certainly doesn’t look like he lacks the physique to succeed in the Premier League. Indeed if anything he looks like he could bully the shit out of many a Stoke defender. Fingers crossed he gets a chance.
On a final note Arseblog News feels horrifically old knowing that our summer signing was only 6-years-old when Thierry moved to N5 and still only 10 by the time Zola had left Stamford Bridge.
How time flies. Perhaps that dream of an Arsenal debut, really is beyond us after all…
there’s always the ‘keeper position for that magic debut… still holding out hope.
What position can I get with Arsenal?
My qualifications for the job are Fick, fat and fifty, and I was always shite at playing football.
Chill out baby, I’m not talking about a position in the team!!!!!! I think the players we have are doing a fine job on the footballing side. I’m looking for something more appropriate to my skill set. Rosette sales maybe?
Well now that Alf Fields has passed on maybe you can walk up & down the corridors tipping your hat to visitors and showing them where the bog is (0;
Can’t wait for Henry to be annoyed in his old age that The Ox had a better career than he did.
huh?? :s
What an odd comment
It was 2am and I was almost asleep – I honestly have no idea…
I’m sure having a career at Arsenal and football in general is all about making former greats feel incompetent about their former selves.
Carl Henry ?
You surely can’t have anything against Thierry Henry. You’d have to be a Spud to hate Thierry.
well in his defence, i think hes just saying that the Ox should such a blinding career that even the great achievements of the mighty henry are paled in comparison…not a terrible thing to hope for honestly.
Which is more odd 1st or 2nd comment?
@ First 2 comments!! – What you guys smokin?? lol
My fat thighs smoke from the friction when I try to run. Luckily the gallons of sweat that appear after a couple of seconds of such stupid activity stop me from spontaneoulsy combusting. Ah, middle age. Not all it’s cracked up to be.
Guess that bars me from being the oldest ballboy at the Grove.
@1steved1 and @indian gooner the end of the piece suggests that the author has always entertained the idea of a call-up but the years are passing by quickly, so it’s less likely this being a familiar feeling i was just pointing out that those between the sticks tend to have a longer vintage – dino zoff lifting the world cup at 40 being the most obvious example of course i’m now headed to the age where even that’s going to be pushing it a bit so i’m working on the stanley matthews principle. stan played in the top flight until… Read more »
Congratulations on having the patience to rationally address the simpletons who couldn’t understand your innocent joke. For what it counts I share the same sentiment, although I still have an outside shot at Center Back.
I was rather hoping that it was a cultural touchpoint unfamiliar to those outside the UK, rather than mouth-breathing idiocy on the part of either poster
the centre back position is one i’d have held out for, particularly as i hate and was always crap at heading the ball, which i think would have counted very much in my favour when arsene was mulling my offer to help out at the back
funny to think that stanley matthews played for stoke, as well. how times change…
ox lord gives us a breath of fresh OX-ygen….waitin for the 32 chambers of oxylin!!!
Ox-Tang Clan?
Oxygen Chamberpot will dominate this league in about 5 years time, then in 15 years time some kid in an interview after signing for Arsenal will be talking about his heroes and mention watching Ox score for fun on MOTD. Then he will call Barca a pack of cunnies which is a new Arsenal initiation.
That’s a hell of a leap you’re making there mate!!! Who’s to say Barfelona will still exist in 15 years time. There must be some natural law of phsyics or chemistry that says that a pack of c*nts like that will implode and disappear up their own arses when reaching the point of criticality (which could be achieved when Cesc captains them to the CL final against Arsenal and then at the last minute refuses to play the match because of his Arsenal DNA, thus consigning the dirty c*nts to a 4-0 loss)
Is Oxo really 5 ft11???
Thats not short at all.
No, he’s really 5 ft 1, but you can’t tell because he wears stilts inside his socks.
Is it just me or does the Ox look about 35 in that picture? He’s very rugged for a teenager. I bet nobody likes playing against him in the Under-19’s.
He could grow into one totally intimidating Gunner. This photo makes me think he’ll be stuck with “The Ox” for life. More power to him, I say.
Looks like a very special player.
There seems to be a lot more about him than Walcott at the same age.
When he’s on the ball he just looks like he’s gonna kill the opposition.
Ox and Jack: killer and murderer of the opposition…nice (0;
There’s no way that AOC is 5’11. He’s 5’9 tops.
Would love to see Chambers play just in front of Van der Wiel on Arsenal’s right-side in a few years. His agent chats a lot but by the looks of this January might throw up a surprise or two.
http://uk.ibtimes.com/articles/251302/20111117/exclusive-depend-ajax-claims-gregory-van-der.htm
[…] not the only young Englishman in the news either. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been talking about his inspirations in Henry and Zola, comparing himself to the latter. I read the other day that he never played Sunday League football, […]
I liike what I’ve seen of the Ox, think he’s going to be very good for us indeed. Oh, and if he’s pint sized… that would make me thimble sized i think!
Old man face.