Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain says he’s open to representing England in next summer’s Under 21 European Championships, but says it depends on Roy Hodgson’s plans for him as well as any input Arsenal might have.
The tournament rules state that players born on or after January 1, 1992 are eligible for the U21s, which means that although Oxlade-Chamberlain will be 22, he can still be picked by Gareth Southgate. Calum Chambers obviously qualifies too and was named in the U21 two weeks ago before being called up to the senior squad.
Worryingly, Jack Wilshere is also a possible selection despite the fact he’ll be 23, as he was born on January 1st 1992. Speaking to BT Sport, Oxlade-Chamberlain said:
“You’d never turn your nose up at something like that, but there’s a lot that goes into that because the national team have two games around the same time as the tournament so it’s up to Roy Hodgson to decide what he wants.
“When that time comes around I’ll have to think about it,” he continued. “Gareth might not even want me. It’s a discussion that will be had closer to the time with the England manager, someone at Arsenal and Gareth Southgate.”
The issue has been highlighted this week by Gary Lineker, who Tweeted:
All our star under 21 players should go to the finals next summer if fit. Wonderful tournament experience. Other countries insist on it.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) October 16, 2014
However, Arsene Wenger is on the record as being opposed to players who have made the step-up to the senior squad going back to down a level.
“Once a guy has moved up to the full national team, you put him down he is never good,” said the Arsenal manager.
“Apart from on the selfish front for us when a guy has played 50 games, it is better a guy has a good rest during the summer. But most of the time, when they move down, they are not completely at their quality.”
It’s easy to think our opposition to this is based on our players getting plenty of summer rest, but considering we can pick up injuries from an over-exuberant sneeze, maybe we’re just better off not worrying at all.
Que sera, sera.
No
I disagree. If Chambo remains something of a bit part player throughout this season, a summer torney would do him good. The same goes for Chambers. As long as the players going aren’t playing 40+ games a season, why shouldn’t they represent their country in a big tournament? And nobody seems interested in what the players actually want. It’s always club vs country. He’s a young, ambitious player who wants to compete on all levels possible. Let him go.
It’ll only be good for our boys if they help England win the competition. Otherwise, its just a waste of time.
Like the post says, injuries shouldn’t be a concern. God knows our players can pick those up anytime they like.
No you’re not Ox.
Does anyone still listen to Wenger, outside Arsenal?
They can see through the smoke screen.
At least Gareth Southgate won’t go to the U-21s with two defenders short. He won’t attempt to play his best defender through Chronic tendinitis of the Achilles’ tendon.
This won’t happen, Wenger will nip this in the bud…
Complete waste of time. Jack, Ox and Chambers should all stay home. Honestly, the only reason people might care about this tournament is because it’s football in an otherwise-completely-football-less Summer.
Youth international football is all about preparing players for the possibility of playing at senior level, and our boys have all done so. So what’s the point?
“Once a guy has moved up to the full national team, you put him down he is never good,” said the Arsenal manager.
I hope this wasn’t verbatim, absolute horseradish, like Linekar said all the other countries do it.
Any experience he can get should be a priority. There is this theory that Belgium have got this golden generation because of a rule that says that whenever a player has reached a certain level then he can’t go back (down a level). Once a U21, either you stay there as long your age permits or you get promoted to the senior side (and then you stay there). You can’t go back to the U18s. The main thing is that the talented players gain experience from the older players and learn to have cohesion in the set-up. The Ox and… Read more »
If this guy says so, it must bu true. http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Media/Pix/pictures/2013/12/4/1386148605259/Gary-Lineker-in-Walkers-C-010.jpg
No way Ox
aren’t these tournaments about development? I think the ox is developed and shouldn’t play in the tournament.
while the tournaments are for development, there’s no reason why you wouldn’t want to win it. The squad will probably have 23 players, i don’t think 5 already developed players will hurt the other 18.
I think its a good idea, mainly because Southgate seems like a decent manager who might have a plan of how to use the Ox to get the best out of him. He could easily go on to star in such a tournament and give him a huge boost of confidence. Unlike that fokin’ idiot Stuart Pierce, I remember in 2009 at the u21 Euro’s Pierce hadn’t any idea of how too deploy Walcott properly, Walcott looked a shadow of the player who turned out for Arsenal that year.
if he wants to go and gets picked then let him go. its not like hes playing week in week out for us isit so it so it might be a good thing for him
I think any of the players that can go should go, they treat the u21 tournaments exactly the same as the real thing. The more game time Ox Wilshere Chambers etc get together then the better it will be for England & Arsenal. Imagine if they all went and won it playing fantastically they would be filled with confidence going into the new season & would have the hunger to carry on winning trophies.
Didn’t work out too badly for Spain & Germany as well as Barcelona/Madrid & Bayern/Dortmund
As he is 96% likely to be banjaxed with a broken leg, torn hamstring, chronic Desso poisoning, fatal Achilles rupture, severed ACL, or freak pec explosion, this dilemma is unlikely to arise.
Just seen this headline on Sky News “Hurricane Gonzalo To Hit Bermuda – Then Ireland” Watch out ArseBlog
For tournament experience? Yes – it would benefit Chambers and Ox, who have always been on the fringes of the senior team in all the tournaments he’s played. I think Wenger will agree this time because he has changed suddenly in seriously wanting to help produce an English core for the FA.
Lineker is talking shite. Wenger is right. U21 is a huge step down for The Ox, Chambers and Wilshere. They’re all good enough to play in the senior team.
Go for it ox cos with no rotation and subs on 70min you wont get too much game time with wenger.
It’s not like England has a chance to win it anyway. They have always underperformed and under delivered in the past 30 years since i started watching football. They should hire the Mexican coach instead of Hodgson, he has two main advantages over Hodgson, one he doesn’t speak English and two he has some sense of the game.
The OX looks like a physical beast when he comes on the pitch! i dont even know why he isnt starting hes so much more physically dominant than anyone else in his place. U-21’s would be good if he hasnt done the minutes this season but personally he should be playing in both starting 11’s he is looking sharp, solid and rapid!