5 reasons why Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain should start for Arsenal

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain began to establish himself as one of Arsenal’s key men last season, appearing in more matches than any other player before suffering several niggling injuries. His impressive displays down the flank kept him in Roy Hodgson’s England set up as well, with his pace and trickery causing defenders all sorts of problems. He looked to kick on again this season, impressing in pre-season and again in the Community Shield against Chelsea, smashing in the game winner with a superb effort into the top corner.

After starting in the opening day defeat to West Ham, he surprisingly found himself on the bench for the following two matches before starting against Newcastle. It was his drive that was deflected into his own net by Newcastle defender Coloccini, and Chamberlain showed how much he brings to the side with his energy and pace. He was a substitute against Liverpool and nearly set up the game winner within minutes of coming, beating Gomez down the left and curling a cross in for Walcott which was only just dealt with by Skrtel.

He always showed glimpses of stardom since his arrival from Southampton in 2011 and for me he has reached a stage in his maturation where he has to play. He is among the squad’s most dynamic players and should start every match if he is fit.

Let me at em!

Aside from Alexis Sanchez, Alex is the most direct attacking player Arsenal possess. With the side often accused of trying to overplay in search for the perfect goal, Alex is one of the few who doesn’t hesitate to have a go by himself. He loves to torment fullbacks with his pace and trickery, and he is difficult to stop once he has a head of steam. His strength and low centre of gravity means he can be a bit of a freight train as well, brushing aside defenders and bossing his way into the area when need be.

Width

Beyond his pace and dynamic running, Alex brings much needed width to the side. Arsenal can sometimes tend to congest things by playing through the middle the majority of the time, and with no one to hug the touchline to provide an outlet and pull the opposition out, the side can struggle to get in behind back lines. With Alex in the side, the fullback has no choice but to be on his toes or risk getting beat for pace in behind, and it opens up all kind of space that maybe isn’t usually available. He is one of the few traditional wingers in the squad, meaning good old fashioned wide play up and down the touchline. The value that brings cannot be understated.

Pace yourself

Did I mention this lad can sprint? With all the hype surrounding Theo Walcott and Hector Bellerin’s fight for pace supremacy at Arsenal, it often understated that Alex is quite the pacey character himself. He isn’t as quick as the two aforementioned, but his blistering pace down the wing is a massive asset. He can be unplayable on his day, beating players with a bit of trickery and a whole lot of speed. He loves to change pace with a little drop of the shoulder, and so often he leaves his fullback chasing shadows.

Fire away

One of the most understated aspect of Alex’s game is his shooting ability. Not only does he strike a fantastic ball with either foot, he isn’t afraid to let fly and have a pop whenever the situation presents itself. Going back to Arsenal’s habit of overplaying in some instances, Alex is one of the few who doesn’t mind having a shot. He doesn’t need to get on the end of a one two or a delicate flick to have a chance on goal, he just needs a second of daylight and few yards of space.

Grafter

The Ox also puts a shift in on the other end of the ball, and a player who runs about and grafts for the team should always have a place in the side. He doesn’t mind doing the dirty work, and with his pace and strength he often recovers brilliantly to provide cover and snuff out danger. That shouldn’t be overlooked, as it is an important trait that not many possess.