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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: Less Ox, More Snake

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redwhiteAustrian

Tu Felix Austria
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Before thinking about which position suits him best for next season, I'm worried that he won't be in an Arsenal shirt by that time.

Could be another case of Arsenal persisting with an injury prone player, only for him to leave us as soon as he's put a decent run of games on the pitch.
 

Aevi

Hale End FC
Moderator
Before thinking about which position suits him best for next season, I'm worried that he won't be in an Arsenal shirt by that time.

Could be another case of Arsenal persisting with an injury prone player, only for him to leave us as soon as he's put a decent run of games on the pitch.
You think he'd do that? I'd be surprised, he seems happy here.

I guess it is a possibility though... next season is such a critical one in terms of doing well enough to convince players to stay.
 

redwhiteAustrian

Tu Felix Austria
Administrator
There have been at least sounds from his camp in terms of potential new clubs, to such an extent that there've been rumours spread on a move to Liverpool ever since the turn of the year. Coincidence?

Maybe his new role has changed his view on his future here over the last two months. Surely it has had an impact on the stance of the club, because they've taken quite long to even put a new offer on the table (allegedly).

Could go both ways I'd assume.
 

Big Poppa

Established Member
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Country: USA

Player:Saliba
He sees himself as a central midfielder and has said so many times. He was questioned about wing back after the cup final and stopped short of saying he'll do it if he has to but that's not where he sees himself long term and I agree. He is not a good defender. He sucks aerially and lacks positional instincts of a defensive player. His speed allows him to recover but that's it. A specialist wing back is a must or good wingers will destroy him. His success there was in large part down to the fact that he is the best crosser of a ball in the team, and the others are so horrible. It's also a waste of his midfield gifts.
 

Mitch

Blonde Brigade Grand Wizard
Ox's best position is the RWB, he displayed excellent form in that role at the end of season. Really excited about our fullbacks next season having so much pace and power in Seo and OX.
 

Aevi

Hale End FC
Moderator
From a Xhaka interview:

The lads helped me to settle too. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was the first to get in contact with me. He told me that he was pleased that I’d joined. He gave me his number too and let me know that if there was ever anything I needed, to let him know and he would try to help."

What a great lad, it's good to know he's a nice guy on and off camera. I really hope he stays and reaches his potential here.
 

MutableEarth

Reiss' Dad
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Ox, like most British midfielders, wants to be Steven Gerrard (he even says this after the final on BT Sport). This is the biggest problem with a lot of them, including some midfielders at our club (I'm looking at you Jack and Aaron). You can't be Steven Gerrard. He's Gerrard.

Be you, and play your game and evolve it. Ox needs to see his versatility as a weapon, not as a liability in his quest to be Steven Gerrard. He has affected the game so easily at wing-back as it offers him a chance to use his main strengths - his dribbling from deep and his crossing. He doesn't even have to think too hard about it, it complements his natural game a great deal. Perhaps the defending would still need work but it doesn't stifle his instincts. He can further refine his game to work for CM, but only if he maximizes the strengths he already has.
 

Big Poppa

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Country: USA

Player:Saliba
Ox, like most British midfielders, wants to be Steven Gerrard (he even says this after the final on BT Sport). This is the biggest problem with a lot of them, including some midfielders at our club (I'm looking at you Jack and Aaron). You can't be Steven Gerrard. He's Gerrard.

Be you, and play your game and evolve it. Ox needs to see his versatility as a weapon, not as a liability in his quest to be Steven Gerrard. He has affected the game so easily at wing-back as it offers him a chance to use his main strengths - his dribbling from deep and his crossing. He doesn't even have to think too hard about it, it complements his natural game a great deal. Perhaps the defending would still need work but it doesn't stifle his instincts. He can further refine his game to work for CM, but only if he maximizes the strengths he already has.

Steven Gerrard type of midfielders are a bit of legacy from the 90s era where there were many more all round box to box central midfielders. They don't really exist any more. The game has changed now, and to your point, Ox needs to recognise the need to develop tactically. To be honest I think he called out Gerrard because the guy was standing right there while he was being asked the question and he didn't want people to think that he was now a full back.

I think he is also intelligent enough to know that his first priority is getting regular minutes, and if that means wing back then so be it. The problem is that Wenger will often take liberties with certain players in terms of using them as utility men to buffer the squad. Clearly he should sign a speacialist RWB to give Bellerin competition or even bench him but he'll be comfortable knowing that Ox has covered there relatively well, which to me, is not the correct approach.
 

celestis

Arsenal-Mania Veteran
Moderator

Country: Australia
In two minds whether Ox will make it as a midfielder. On the one hand he has all the tools includind the ability to break the lines. However whilst he has done a job there he has never shown a natural flair for that position . It may come later years but Ramsey is well ahead of him imo. Hes much more free and expressive in that wing back role.
 

Mrs Bergkamp

Double Dusted
Dusted 🔻
Watching him at CM for England and the game has passed him by. He looks better anywhere on the wing. If he wants to play centrally,then it's behind the striker imo.
 

Godwin1

Very well-known
In two minds whether Ox will make it as a midfielder. On the one hand he has all the tools includind the ability to break the lines. However whilst he has done a job there he has never shown a natural flair for that position . It may come later years but Ramsey is well ahead of him imo. Hes much more free and expressive in that wing back role.
He hasn't got it in him to become anything more than a wide player in my opinion, you could say he's much more free and expressive in the wing back role because it's actually more of a restrictive role than CM. Might sound more harsh than I want to convey, but I think he's a wide player through and through.
 

Aevi

Hale End FC
Moderator
That was a very disappointing performance, it must be said. Had he done well, that spot would have been his for England just as he wished and may have put him into serious contention at Arsenal as well. Instead now, based on the harsh responses on Twitter, it seems he'll be reduced to cameo wing roles for the rest of the summer.

To be fair to him however, the odds were against him from the start. His inexperience as a CM was definitely an issue, but even more detrimental to his performance was everyone else on the pitch. His teammates left him out to dry a lot by passing to him when he was under pressure and providing him with poor passing options. The movement around him was poor as well, partially I bet because of how inept Southgate's coaching is. The lack of structure will never help a CM, especially an inexperienced one like Ox. Dier was absolutely dreadful himself, only looking better because he was barely involved and played the game overly safe. It basically fell on Ox's shoulders to move play forward. I wouldn't be surprised if France targeted Ox knowing Dier wouldn't be effective, like teams do to us with Coquelin.

I'm not excusing Chamberlain completely, because with as bad a game as he had he most definitely is somewhat to blame. He didn't deal with pressure well around his own box, and looked positionally lost all game. The latter is an obstacle he'll face if he does make a push for the midfield position, because he doesn't seem to have the instinct for it like Ramsey does.

I may perhaps be too ambitious visualizing a future for him in that position, but I do think it could work for him if he gets the proper coaching and opportunities. He has the athleticism and footballing ability to prosper there. It might be safer though to have him continue as a wide player, where he has finally made himself at home and could become very good. For now, I hope he keeps his head up and keeps working at it. He's just come off a fruitful season, which matters more than a single game.
 

Country: Iceland
Why are people attacking him after international friendly where the whole team played like ****...

Chamberlain had good cameos with us last season. Still worth looking at it.

Wenger is still A grade manager and Southgate is failure.
 

Garrincha

Wilf Zaha Aficionado
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Its idiotic to play such an inexperienced player in the position vs Kante & Pogba.

Ox needs to play in an attacking position. At the wrong club to nail down the RB / RWB slot & really no club hoping to challenge at the top end should be playing such a raw CM.

Feels like we have been here before with another Southampton product.
 
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