It would be fair to say Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has had a season to forget. He started brightly with the winner in the Community Shield, but that was about as good as it got.
His form has been patchy, but so too has his fitness, the campaign punctuated by injury problems – compounded by a new knee ligament strain picked up in training this week.
Arsene Wenger explained how the injury happened, saying, “It was completely accidental, no tackle, nothing. He did it alone. He changed direction because a pass came behind him, and did it.”
Which just sums up how unfortunate he is. There have been recent stories linking him with a move away from the club as his contract heads towards its final two years, but the Frenchman doesn’t sound like he’s ready to let him go just yet.
“We invested a lot of time,” he said, “so we will not give up now.”
The midfielder is expected to be fit for the start of pre-season.
I doubted very much Wenger will let Ox walk away. Not to mention Wenger wants to have more Brits on his squad, and with th Brit Core crumbling, Ox comes out as the more hopeful of the bunch. Really hope him and Jack pull through next season.
I think it would be too early to give up on Ox and Wilshere but I seriously think that big decision is coming up on Theo.
It’s not too late to give up on Wilshere cause he’s good at football when he’s fit.
Unlike the Ox. Get rid, with Walcott and that hulk hogan hand to the ear wanker Giroud.
1 goal in 21 games. Jesus.
20 goals in a season. Jesus.
Walcott is less useful when not scoring. Firstly, since Welbeck’s return (and he hasn’t exactly been scoring heaps), Giroud has had less starts. He needs a continuity of matches to find form and timing. Secondly when he isn’t scoring, he acts as a very important node for the team as a whole. Wenger was spot on starting GIroud against Norwich because they populated their box and did not move far from it. He was also spot on adding the extra player in and around the box in Welbeck rather than exchanging tit for tat. If you remember, GIroud got the… Read more »
Is it bad that Wenger won’t give up on Ox, yet doesn’t seem to even want to give Campbell a fair chance?
We’ve all been in that situation even at work; you work so damn hard and you’re the best, but your boss has his favourite and nothing you do will ever change that.
This. Campbell has been treated like shit for busting a gut every time he’s out there.
Wouldn’t want that would we?
We’ve need players like Ox who give zero fucks out there.
is it really that big of decision on Theo? I mean Podolski would be better value at 140K a week right now just for his hi-jinx in the dressing room!
And we invested more time in Walcott, so…?
I dont mind giving The Ox more time, But in general I think Wenger tend to stick by his players abit to far. Sometimes you need to cut your losses and invest your time and resources in something more worthwhile.
I like the fact that Wenger gives time to injury-prone players. They got injured playing for Arsenal. I do not like Wenger condoning lack of quality though.
IMO The latest Ox injury however unwelcomed it is has gone along way towards helping Wenger postpone a potential squad/transfer problem.
He didn’t know what to do with the lad. His 2 months off will relieve abit of pressure at least temporarily.
Yes, stick with your pet project player instead of Campbell who has actually proved himself. Just leave already Arsene.
Campbell was brought in by Wenger.
It wasn’t him who bleated on about how useless Dick Law was running around the Costa Rican jungle and telling Campbell to get out while he could.
Just saying.;)
One less player to have away and injured during a pointless summer international tournament
The Euros are pointless?
For England. Yes.
Ox would be on the radar of any big club. A season to forget for many players and the break will do him some good for next season. Forget the Euros he has his long term career at Arsenal to focus on. He was at fault on a few occasions losing the ball in key areas but can work on that in the interim. Theo seems to have lost his fight for 1st team football this season and looks out of his depth. A summer in a boot camp is the only hope for him otherwise he will have to… Read more »
Yaaawn….. Wake me up when Wenger is gone
Feel people need to lay off the lad. He’s had a poor season, but that’s no reason to sell. On that basis, City should sell Sterling and Real should sell Isco. He’s 22 years old and has bags of ability, he just needs to translate it into match winning performances and that comes from the manager as well as the player.
Tbf Isco was a dominant player in Malaga and has played well most of the time for Real. Sterling is maybe a better comparison allthough he has some assist and goals, unlike the Ox
Real probably will sell! That’s the deal there. Produce or go. Same with James
No he is shit, sorry…
Yes, let’s keep on being stubborn…
You “fans” wouls sell Ox, Giroud, Per, Ramsey, Gibbs, Rosicky, Flamini, Wilshere, Szczesny.. That is ridiculous. We need great quantity in our squad. Where you will find as good striker as Giroud to be second choice (in form he is right behind world class)? I rate Per as one of the best CB in PL but clearly many fans don’t see how good he is because nowadays you just see speed, atractive playing style, technic… We need those players to be squad players. I agree with selling Walcott, letting Arteta go and maybe Ramsey who doesn’t fit in our system.… Read more »
“Where you will find as good striker as Giroud to be second choice (in form he is right behind world”
We can find even better for second choice.
His name is Welbeck. He plays for a north London team we may have heard of.
Actually, selling/releasing all those players this summer (aside from maybe Per) would be the ULTIMATE DREAM SCENARIO. Sell Ox, Giroud, Ramsey, Gibbs, and Szceszny (all of whom either are not of the quality needed to be part of a truly elite European team, or don’t fit the team when it’s best players are in it), and you can get anywhere from 60 to 100+ million pounds combined. Sell Wilshere on top of that (if you don’t believe he will ever be healthy enough to make an impact), and you can get at least 20-30 million more pounds from some team… Read more »
As long as we don’t actually count on him to win the title, I’m okay with keeping him so he develops further.
He also needs to decide if he is a winger or a CM. if he is a winger he really needs to start banging in goals and create assists, if he is a midfielder he needs to improve his passing and defending. Either way he needs to improve a lot to stand a chance of sealing a first team place
Tore my ankle once because my team mate delayed his pass and passed behind me.
I would….:-(
Like an old record playing, i do believe he has the ability, but is mind set is another problem. Wenger has always been loyal to his players, which is good for the players and the whole family like experience at arsenal club, however in regards to the team and their ability to challenge for trophies it has been a let down. We seem to start each year with players unavailable due to injuries and Wenger has enough time to find suitable replacements, but what he does is the opposite he protects their position in the squad by not buying, especially… Read more »
“We invested a lot of time,” he said, “so we will not give up now.”
This is known as Sunk Cost Fallacy, Mr Wenger. Look it up.
Is that you, Jimmy McGill?
But, but, he’s the professor right?
His stubbornness shines in that comment, doesn’t it?
Have always had such high hopes for him. I feel if he went on a scoring spree of 5 to 10 games it will get his mojo back. I remember his first few games and some outstanding performances.
The stars need to align for him.
The one thing I can berate him for this season is his lack of application. Ramsey 2014-2015, Campbell and Alexis are prime examples that even when off form hardwork is essential
The fact that Wenger has invested so much time and faith in the Ox,shouldn’t guarantee him a place in the squad next season,in the modern game you’re as good as your most recent performance,if Wenger actually has the desire to really improve the quality of our current squad then the likes of Ox ,Walcott and Giroud’s won’t have any serious roles to play come next season,there are no room for sentiments if you really want to have an extremely competitive team,I run a business myself and have learned that being ruthless is the best way to keep ur team motivated… Read more »
Having spent a couple of hours in his hospitality box with his mum v Everton at home, it was clear that Alex is his own worst critic and beats himself up over a mistake for the next ten minutes or so and lets it distract him from his game. This is fixable by himself and Wenger and thats when we will see the best of him. Freedom often equals expression which in turn gives confidence, relaxed instinctive play, handbrake off etc. He is a big talent and worth the persistence in my tiny humble opinion. Oh and thanks Mrs W… Read more »
There’s is plenty of competition on the wings.
Iwobi, Campbell, Alexis.
There is no reason to think the Ox will not turn his fortunes around unless you are the same sort of person that said Coquelin would never amount to anything or Campbell should get out while he could.
Gnabry is also starting to find a bit of the form he had prior to injury.
We will need all these players.
Arsene making the best of it. We can’t sell him injured over the summer so we’ll stick it out another year. Like a failing marriage
I’m not against Ox but we’re going to easily sell Joek Capmbell for peanuts yet not touch Ox because…..????
Oooh my dear Arsenal…
I wouldn’t give up on the Ox either but in the case of Walcott I would. Ox has good raw skills and he can still come good.
Also I would do anything to keep Joel here because he is the best young player at Arsenal. I would like to know Wenger’s plan about that.