Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain says the return to fitness of several key players is a welcome bonus as Arsenal enter the hectic festive period.
Reflecting on the successful reintegration of French duo Mathieu Debuchy and Olivier Giroud after their long lay offs, the England international said the current roster of players available to the manager are more than capable of picking up points as the Gunners get ready to face Liverpool, QPR, West Ham and Southampton in the space of 10 days.
“There have been a lot of players working really hard — we see them out on the pitch and they look like they are getting stronger and stronger,” Oxlade-Chamberlain is quoted as saying by the Evening Standard.
“To get Debuchy back is a massive lift for us because he is an international defender who brings a lot to our side. He brings a lot of experience and character so it is really good to have him back.
“Olivier can bring us goals and is a great target to hit up front. He is another massive threat going forward. We have a lot of players still coming back.
“Theo is not far — he is just coming back from a long knee injury and I know myself having come back from one that you do find little niggles here and there. It is just managing that for him and he will be back and firing on all cylinders soon.
“There are a number of others coming back and it seems like everyone is coming back at the right time for us. The players we have got fit at the moment are more than capable of getting the results we need in the weekends to come and to have other players coming back from injury is a bonus.”
Theo Walcott is expected to be in contention for this weekend’s trip to Anfield and Calum Chambers will be available again after suspension. Assuming no new knocks were picked up against Newcastle that means we’re down to just 9 first team players on the sidelines. Just the nine…amazing!
Hope you’re right. Lets turn on the big guns.
I’ve got a strong feeling that when Walcott does finally make it back to full fitness he’s gonna absolutely explode into form. He looked electric in his brief cameo against Burnley, and it was plain to see he’d taken the opportunity to bulk up in his time out injured.
Alexis, Wallcot, Wellbeck, Giroud, The Ox, Özi…… *[transmission interrupted by uncontrollable drooling]*
Absolutely. He was immense in the few games before he got injured last season too.
Fingers crossed he can keep fit for the rest of the season.
Chai
This is like music to the ears… time to rake in points and make a real push up the table.
The team seem to be finding their rhythm aleeady.
All I need is an ox-mas baby!!! ole ole.
All I need is arse-mas baby!!! oye oye
All I need is arseblog baby….sing it wit me
You’ve lost me.
Rotten song, stick to yer day job matey
let the coutdown begin. 9…8..7….15..14… 🙂
Gnabry? What’s the score with him?
I’ve a horrible suspicion that he is quitely serving some kind of long-term ban
Just like Rosicky?
I think we can rule that out.
I have checked the afc site, and Gnabry did have two U21 appearances in Oct so my speculation seems unfounded
Much the same as with Walcott – niggles after a long term set-back.
He is Gknacker’d
Any word on when Ozil is back in training?
He was in the training photos last week…although i reckon he is 2-3 weeks away from being match ready.
I’m not sure I’ve ever wanted a player to come in and smash it as much as I want Ozil to. Shoving all that unneccessary (amongst some necessary) crticism down the throat of fans, non-fans and the pundits would be the most satisfying thing for years. Come on Mesut, come in and prove to everyone turning down Cesc was a smart move, we all know you’ve got it in you
Second Tuesday of next week
No more double digit amount of injuries? Fantastic! We’re heading in the right direction. At this rate, we’ll be fully fit within a few years.
Amazing indeed!
Oh! Monseur Wenger, with just 2 more defensive signings this winter, coupled with the attacking forays at our disposal… We’ll conquer the world… Yes, the WORLD!!!
Soon the Emirates cup will be ours! Mwahaha
Let’s all just do some serious AW brown nosing, watch out for the Hershey squirts there son they can be a real pain!
When is Özil back?!
Can’t wait to see him link with Alexis.
Likely late Jan or early Feb.
Weeks away to joining in full training, a bit more than that until he’s able to play 90 minutes; he’ll probably need at least one reserve team run-out. I wouldn’t expect to see him starting a game until City away at the very earliest, more likely the cup 4th round (provided we get through!).
Ozil is mere weeks away. Early to mid Jan!
I said second Tuesday of next week, geeez
Completely agree with Ox about Debuchy – he really has made a big difference in the two matches he’s been back for. Just shows what a difference a bit of experience and quality makes. Really hope we can push on now after a difficult start to the season. There’s real quality in the squad – COYG!
I can’t wait till we have all our players back. I’m really interested in what our stongest XI is according to Wenger.
I winder if having Debuchy and Giroud back is like having new signings ?
“comme obtenir de nouveaux joueurs”
Koscielny fit for Liverpool?
No, he’s not. Its all a bit premature in my opinion but we’re getting there.
I’m worried that he’s going to be plagued by little injuries related to his tendonitis all season. Clearly rushed back because of the run of poor form.
Arsenal knows how to beat Liverpool and Spurs. That heavy defeat we got from them last year was an accident. Plus, they lack confidence more than we do right now. If we play to full potential, we should collect three much needed points.
An accident?! Arsene, is that you?
5-1 last season against Liverpool away, 3-0 against everton, 6-0 against chelsea and 6-3 against man city. Now tell me, how exactly did we happend to have so many ‘accidents’ in one season? It was not co-incidence that we lost those games. I hate to be negative but we are far away from performing the way a club like arsenal should away from home against the top teams.
Pot stirred.
Liverpoo got knocked out of the CL last week and were thoroughly humiliated by Man Ure on the weekend. As I write this, they are just starting the match that will see them dismissed from the FA Cup by a championship side.
After that run of horror, they have to face a rested and rejuvenated Arsneal.
We’re gonna fucking smash them.
lol.. No, we are not going to crush them. You clearly never followed our away games against the top teams. ^^
Keep dreaming buttercup
With Alexis, Ox, Giroud, Walcott, Welbeck, Ozil and Rosicky playing the second half of the season, we can shut everyone up about finishing only 4th.
COYG!!!
Sanogo might come good too.
Your absolutely correct, here comes 5th, hoooooray
Correct me if I’m wrong but I’m sure Debuchy is undefeated in the games he has featured for us.
He’s our good luck charm, just hope I havent jinxed it.
i miss Walcott so much. such a unique and important player for us.
Important crock that is
Against Liverpool, and moving on from here till we get Kos back, I’m a strong proponent of sticking with Bellerin on right and Debuchy as RCB. Not because of the whole sticking with the winning squad or because I’m firmly on the Bellerin bandwagon (which I totally am!), but it’s just balanced at the back! Debuchy is a better RB than Chambers or Bellerin there is no doubt about that. But with his skill set he can mimics Kos very well, key being his defensive quickness, snap tackles, and aerial ability. Bellerin reminds me of Dani Alves offensively, and he… Read more »
I love Bellerin too. Perhaps this is the time to try Chambers as DM? Then again, Liverpool away is probably not the place to do that. My hunch is that Debuchy will be RB and Chambers play with Per in middle. It’s good to finally be having a discussion on which of 5 possible defenders will play the four positions, rather than who will be our fourth defender!
Then get a room if you love him so much, geeez
In my mind, Chambers need a breather, not because he’s tired but he’s been pushed too quickly into playing too many games. He’s supposed to be a project and you can see he’s not very smart with a lot of his silly fouls plus he’s really not a RB. Ideally, he should be Per’s understudy at the “slower” position at the heart of the defense
It is too early to say whether we will fair better with Debuchy at CB.
Big Mert’s positional sense goes out the window when playing LCB – just look at how easy we folded against Stoke.
The gist of the interview is quite different from the extracts given here. Read it yourselves:
http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/dont-attack-arsene-wenger-the-arsenal-players-must-take-the-blame-says-alex-oxladechamberlain-9930165.html
Which is interesting to hear after similar comments from Giroud earlier. All this talk about Wenger losing the dressing-room is complete nonsense.
Another AW brown nose R, watch out son don’t stick that snooz too far up Wenger’s crack it might bite ya
You may want to calm down. I just pointed out that The Ox was saying something quite different from what the Arseblog article suggests, and that Giroud said something similar recently too. You may want to take your sore accusations of brown-nosing to the players themselves. And anyway, I’m perfectly happy to be an Arsene brown-noser along with The Ox, Giroud, Wilshere, Ransey, Thierry, Pires….
Don’t bother trying to reason. Wank’s above comments obviously indicate total Troll.
I believe he’s already been banned.
Who are these handsome fellows?
https://i.imgur.com/Cr9V4k8.png
Reminder: Theo and Ozil have started exactly three games together. In those games, Theo has scored four goals.
Theo, Ozil and Alexis have never played together…
“Theo, Ozil and Alexis have never played together…”
What a mouth-watering prospect. Half the season gone yet we haven’t even seen our best 11.
Somebody sort these injuries out!