Arsene Wenger says that although they tend to play on different sides of the pitch, the absence of Alexis Sanchez allows Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to stake a claim for a first team place during pre-season.
The Ox appeared in the Gunners first 17 Premier League games last season before injuries kicked in, and the manager says that the build up to the new 2015/16 is particularly important for the England midfielder.
Touching on his versatility, he said, “He is not directly always in competition with Alexis because he plays more on the right side than the left, but it is a good opportunity for him because he is not injured.
“Pre-season will be very important for him. Alex played the first 20 games last season and was after that injured, so he is of course one of the regular players in our team.”
He made his comeback in the FA Cup final, setting up Olivier Giroud for Arsenal’s fourth goal, and he will be one of the players the manager is banking on to help the team improve next season.
While there’s often a tendency to think the transfer market is the only way to make a team better, someone like Oxlade-Chamberlain (22 next month) can have a significant impact also.
Let’s hope that’s the case.
I’m hoping to see more of him next season. Seriously exciting, direct player.
Year of the Ox
is a fantastic piece of music by Toronto post-hardcore band Fucked Up:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAFpl-xdAL4
I really hope it is. I’ve had this user name for 2 or 3 years, waiting for his official “arrival”.
Isn’t that Kieran Gibbs in that picture?
Why would anyone thumb you down for that. Trolling Andre Mariner deserves a big thumbs up!
It’s Theo actually.
Or Coq?
No, it’s Theo for sure.
Thought it was Serge Gnabry to be honest 🙁
We have a lot that were affected by injuries last season, including Jack, Alex, Danny, Mesut, Olivier, Matthieu.
A regular season from each would give us another boost, so long as we can keep the others fit as well.
The squad is looking good, even without new signings (though not averse to one or two). Especially if the Ox turns into the player that we know he will be.
If he added productivity to the rest of his game, he’ll be some player. Though I think he’d be best centrally (AC Milan and Stoke games come to mind). Unfortunately, that would mean competing with Ramsey/Cazorla/Wilshere for one spot. Nice problem to have.
He’s already competing with Ramsey for the right wing spot. Man we play such a fluid formation sometimes that it’s impossible to pick a best XI. A fine problem for the manager 🙂
Goals per game ratio is poor….needs 15 in all competitions this season. He could and should be the next Rooney….without the Granny shagging, of course.
Arteta, Giroud, Chambers and now The Ox are all looking chiseled.
Get that muscle back on Mesut and we’re all systems go for some sexy and physical football this season.
theo got the guns out too he looks like he been hitting the gym. sign da ting
He’s nicked Coquelin’s awesome haircut.
Would take the Ox over Sterling any day
Dammn right – if sterlin is worth 49 mill the ox is worth about 75mil. he is just a better player technically, physically, tactically, can play more positions and is a nice guy. i expext a big season from him and jack
If there is anybody who needs a injury free season it’s Ox, every time he puts a run of games together and gets some form an injury comes along and puts him out for months. I really think he has the potential to be top top top class, if he can add goals/assists to his game then I see no reason why he can’t be as good as the likes of Robben & Ribery.
Besides Sanchez he was our best player up until the turn of the year and that’s without having much end product to his game. If/when he can add that we’re looking at one of the best players in the league, one on each flank.
was the Ox not supposed to be getting surgery over the summer?
Really hoped for the Ox to step up last season when injury played spoilsport again. Killer player on our hands. Just to remind fans that Wenger spent 16 m on this guy when he was 18 around the time we were trounced by United. He’s got the potential to be a dynamite like Alexis and Ramsey (yes, he is).
Be the player we all know you are.
This quote is inadvertently funny:
“Alex played the first 20 games last season and was after that injured, so he is of course one of the regular players in our team”
Of course he is a regular player, look he got injured. That confirms it.
Big game player! Bayern away; Milan at home Utd in the FA cup. Liverpool in the FA cup a week after we got a dicking from them…and MOTM for all of them. Player with the biggest potential in the prem IMO
Can’t wait to see what Ox can do in a full, fit season with a proper pre-season under his belt. He’s one of the physically strongest players in the league. When he gets going on a run, defenders just bounce off him. If he can keep himself out of the treatment room, he can be right up there with Sanchez as one of the best in the world.
I think Ox will be with Alexis the preferred choice out wide. But there will be plenty of competition (cover) with Walcott, Santi, (Probably a new player) and Akpom + Welbeck and Ramsey if need be all able to play out wide. Similarly, Ox covers the CM position next to/ahead of the main DM (Coq, Arteta or Flamini) In that role there will be Ramsey, Jack, Santi and Ox all able to slide in. We are built (considering injury issues that have previosly plagued us) for quadruple redundancy. I believe in striker, we will see Walcott get his opportunities next… Read more »