Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain says his focus is 100% on breaking into the Arsenal team, but admits that he has considered the possibility of going somewhere else to play more regularly.
The 23 year old has yet to nail down a starting place, and he feels he’s at an age where playing week in week out is crucial for his development as a player.
However, the England international’s first thought is to work as hard as possible to get the minutes he needs under Arsene Wenger.
Speaking to Sky Sports, he said, “I’d be lying if I wasn’t going to sit here and say that it has crossed my mind that I need more game time. As a footballer, you want to play every game. Me being myself, I’m not happy when I’m not playing.
“There is going to come a time in my career, and I think I’m approaching that, when I do need to be getting more regular football, but my focus completely and utterly now is on playing for Arsenal and still trying to break into the team when I get the opportunity.
“Help out if I have to come off the bench, do what I did yesterday and come on and make a difference.
“My sole aim for now is to help Arsenal and keep pushing myself to play in this team, because you know, I love playing at Arsenal. It’s a great club, it’s a great team and I’ve got a lot of faith in the team.
“There is that in my mind that I do want to get more game time. There comes a time in your career where you have to re-evaluate things and think, “Is that going to be here or elsewhere?”
Touching on his relationship with the manager, he continued, “I know what he’s like, and I know what’s required. He doesn’t have to say much to me, I know what’s going on.
“The way, at the moment, that the team’s been playing, especially since the Chelsea game at home, it gives everyone the vibes of what’s expected and what needs to happen and that pushes you on.
“As I’ve got older, in the last year or so, yeah I’ve gone and knocked on his door and had words with him, because I’m at a stage now where I definitely want to be playing and pushing him to play me, getting feedback and if I’m not playing, finding out why I’m not playing.
“Or if I am playing, what he is happy with or what he is not happy with.”
The Ox had an impressive cameo on Saturday against Swansea, and has two goals to his name already this season. There are signs it’s going in the right direction for him, so hopefully he can stay fit and give the manager something to think about.
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Quotes via r/gunners
Take the chances you get.
I know it must sting to be usurped by Iwobi but he should really just keep his mouth shut and let his feet do the talking. Theo did that and it worked wonders.
When has Theo been one to keep his mouth shut?
Hahah
It’s Hilarious that players who aren’t warranting playing are demanding that they play. I’m sure Ox will come good but on current form it’s hard to start him over Iwobi or Walcott
Where did you get the idea that he’s demanding to play? He didn’t say anything like that.
You have misread the article
That knee injury against Villa opening day a few years ago really put him back, he looked brilliant that pre season and hasn’t really got back to those levels since then.
He looked good in preseason last year to though.
Did well when he came on against Swansea. Unlucky not to get an assist. Would love to see him build on that and give the manager something to think about
Well the boss tries to include him at every chance possible, sometimes to the detriment of the team. The boss believes in him and if Chamberlain does leave then he can’t say that he wasn’t given a chance.
Young English players lack mana.
Alex,if your playing from the start, or on the bench,
you’re in the team mate.
Came on to great effect against the swans but he really needs to up his game and remind us what he’s all about!.. Can’t really complain too much of he’s not been performing.. The added competition in all positions has really lifted the team this season..
Last season, Ox had the habit of playing below average but still getting some important goals. This season, each of his goals have come from him playing well for an extended period. He is playing the right way now but he just needs consistency.
“Last season, Ox had the habit of playing below average but still getting some important goals”
He scored one goal last year.
I seem I have blended last season with the season before (like a complete idiot). Forgive me, Cornelius. I shouldn’t post So early in the morning.
Ridiculous
He should just be getting his head down and working and not spouting to the media when he should just be talking to the club. Unfortunate with injuries but has the talent to be a star for sure!
He seems more comfortable on the right than on the left. So, it’s a straight fight between him and Walcott. Considering both their injuries history, there will be enough games for them both.
Iwobi, Bellarin and Coq, have all managed to become part of the starting 11, no reason why he can’t.
It is his decision making with and without the ball, that’s where he needs to improve. He’s got speed, and he’got better technique than Walcott, but he doesn’t seem to find himself in great goalscoring positions as much as Theo. Which means he doesn’t do the same amount of good runs. With the ball he does make lots of good runs, but too often ends up loosing the ball. If he can improve on those fields then he’s bound to become a great player.
Not sure how to take the comments from the oxo cube. Like has been mentioned already, I feel he gets more chances than others and he hasnt exactly repaid arsene for them. But he is a potential world class player and he has had some injury problems. Im pretty confident he will be given a couple or few games now since iwobis lack of defensive nous against swansea, if he shows better defensive qualities then iwobi with at least an on par offensive effort he has the gig, if he continues to play in fits and starts we probably will… Read more »
Everything i have seen from the ox so far has been good. Scored some goals in pre season, has looked hungry when he has cone on and have been a threat especially against swansea. Its not much of a surprise that a 23 wants to play more so not much to worry about. If he keeps on the way hes going so far, in this very good squad of men then he will be just fine, his chance will come. And the ox reaching his full potential will be nothing short of fantastic news for Arsenal and England. So lets… Read more »
I hope Ox plays on Wednesday and has a great game. It’ll give him a big confidence boost and something for Wenger to think about.
he should have gone for goal at the near post in that last-minute attack. the ball was in his strong foot
Easily would have had two assists to his name if Theo converted those chances. Whenever I felt like the opposition were gaining a foothold on us, I always felt Ox & Theo were the 2 players who can bail us out. Instead of replacing a forward with a defender, dropping long balls behind the defense for those 2 players to chase would be delightful. Not really sure if Ox can convert if a chance falls to him, but he can be a good creator for Theo on counters.
“if I’m not playing, finding out why I’m not playing”, surely the question he should basking Arsene isn’t “why I’m not playing?”, but “what can I do or work on to be playing?”.
That being said, I don’t think we should be too critical of the The Ox the interview – he was a guest with his dad on ‘Goals on Sunday’ so it’s not like he’s spouting off to the press about being unhappy or making statements via social media purely on his own volition.
I agree we shouldn’t be too critical, but there’s no need for this kind of talk the day after a potentially big Win.
Just focus on the football!
What’s the problem with footballers these days? ? We are in it together, finally we have a decent squad with great depth, lack of depth costed us in the past. Put aside your personal ego’s,his time will come when we need him to play regularly. COYG
You’ve clearly never been an athlete… the pressure for positions is whats making the team play so well. One poor game from Theo or Iwobi, and Wenger will sub on Ox in the 60th. A good performance gets Ox a start the next week. The wingers always have him in the back of their mind, and thats why Theo’s running like mad.. His “Change of attitude” has come because hes tired of being dropped. Players like the Ox, like Xhaka, Elneny, Coq etc. That constantly put pressure on the starters to perform has 100% been the reasons for Arsenal’s good… Read more »
Oh, and Mustafi might have helped too ?
The timing of this interview is what really frustrates me. Why come out and say this the day after your team and teammates have secured a potentially massive win?
Anyone else think that he and his new agent pal are trying to scare us a wee bit?
I don’t want to read too much into the ox comments here. But I can’t help but think there is an underlying or veiled threat to leave Arsenal. He certainly is welcomed to do that if he feels that is the only option available to him getting quality playing time. But I’m glad he also said he wants to do all he can to fight for a first team position. That to me is the right attitude to take for the sake of the team. I can’t imagine if every reserve player starts making these type of comments what effect… Read more »
I’m still trying to figure out what this sentence even means:
“I’d be lying if I wasn’t going to sit here and say that it has crossed my mind that I need more game time.”
The most charitable reading would be that if he wasn’t sitting he’d be lying down, which is fair enough, really.
He could also be standing, crouching or even kneeling. He didn’t really think that one through
The Ox should just be glad that he has a UK passport or he would have been on his way already. He can ask Joel Campbell how that goes. This idea that he is a great technical footballer just waiting to be unleashed is ridiculous, he looks to me a very limited player that gets exposed in anything more than brief appearances as a sub. The idea of him in central midfield is a joke, and an excellent example of the delusions that seem to get planted in players heads when they go play for England. I’m glad that he’s… Read more »
He has to take his chances. There are times that I felt like he is just not taking his chances. He was behind Campbell last season for sure. He is lucky to have a patient manager like Arsene.
The week fans turned on Ox.
https://instagram.com/p/BLqqsyEB-9k/
Concentrate on football and the playing time will come.
I don’t see any problem… just being honest he is. And he’s been putting in a good shift too. The two almost assists last game, the late winner against burnley courtesy of Koscielny’s face and (err…possibly) arms. The maturity to take the ball to the corner against Swansea to wind the clock down a little. Not sure why people have to have a moan about him. Its as I said, not a zero sum game. We will need him to step up. He looks to be improving by the game. The same people who are negative about him are the… Read more »
The Ox should take a leaf out of Gibbo’s book. The lad never complains and always puts in a shift when asked. I’m a big believer in the Ox and know he’ll come good but he needs to concentrate more on his football than Sky Sports.
He should be grateful and stay fit and injury free! If the manager did not have faith in him he could have been sold ages ago! This attitude will only end up in disappointment, he can check his arsenal history!!! You will regret it…..
I’m just glad he’s given up the media duties at the club. He was wasting time and energy building a profile that people warmed to but he just needed to keep his head down. I was sick of seeing him in some comic sketch each time I hit Arsenal.com
Theo’s the same…less talking, more action! (He’s doing a great job of that this season!) And no patting yourselves on the back and claiming we’all be champions after one good game. Focus will lead to consistency and we all know where that’all lead!