View From The Sphere

Why it’s time for us to unleash the ox

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Despite all the hype and depression after the defeat to our North London rivals, there have been some positives to draw from that match and other recent outings. Let’s face it we are scrambling for something to cling on to right now.

As I wrote after the Carling Cup match, I was immensely impressed with Francis Coquelin, whilst Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also took huge plaudits, and rightly so.

We now have a run of games against so called lesser sides, excluding Chelsea away, and I feel Arsene Wenger has to select those who are bang in form, no matter their age or their experience.

Coquelin had proved beyond doubt for me that he has the quality and the temperament for the big matches – he was arguably our best performer on Sunday.

Having watched the emergence of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at Southampton and in his first 2 starts at Arsenal, I believe that he too should be given a run in the side. We hear that Capello is considering fast tracking him and it is hardly surprising with a staggering 5 assists in only 1 and a half U21 outings this season. England, like Arsenal, have been crying out for consistency of delivery from their wide men and sadly it is Theo Walcott amongst the guiltiest.

Just occasionally young talents emerge who truly can enter the world of top flight men’s football as teenagers and really make an impact. Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney and our own Jack Wilshere are obvious examples that spring to mind.

In AOC I feel there is a better than average chance that we may have another player on our books, and if he does have the strength and maturity to match his precocious talent then why hold him back? Particularly at a time when Walcott is not performing as a wide man, Gervinho, whilst exciting, needs time to adapt to the rigours of the Premier League and Andrey Arshavin sadly seems largely disinterested.

My own son was fortunate to be coached by Mark Chamberlain briefly at Portsmouth and he seemed a very level headed guy and the young players enjoyed playing for him. As Alex’s father he always wanted his son to continue his football development at Arsenal after 10 years at arguably the best football academy at Southampton. Why? Because he believed that if Wenger saw that Alex was good enough he would play him. We should of course value Mark Chamberlain’s opinion, not only as a father, but as a top winger and England international, but also as a coach who made his name as at the Saints. In his coaching role at the Saints, he of course worked with his son and earlier with Theo. We should pay attention then when he feels and says Alex has the greater potential than Theo.

In January 2011, Mark was asked the question about the two talents. He was quoted in the Daily Mail saying:

‘It’s nice being pretty on the ball, but if you don’t have the end product then it’s a waste of time.’

‘His ability to cross the ball is good and he already has seven goals this season. He needs to work on getting more assists.’

‘I said at the start of the season that I rate him more highly than Walcott and everyone looked at me funny. But I’ve worked with both; they have their assets and attributes. But as an all-round technical player Alex has more to offer.’

At the end of last season, AOC had 10 goals, promotion and a place in the Division One PFA team of the season. This is a player who only made is full debut at the age of 16 in August of that season, scoring on his first full start against Bournemouth in the Carling Cup. After his debut the then Saints boss, now manager of high flying Newcastle, Alan Pardew was asked if Alex would play the next league game. he told the Southampton Echo:

‘His age is irrelevant – if he’s good enough he’s good enough, and he is good enough.’

So come on Arsene, with home games against Sunderland, Stoke and the Carling Cup against Bolton to come there has never been a better time to really see what the Ox can do.

He has an excellent touch and a great turn of pace. He is a powerful runner with the ball at his feet, has the skills and trickery to beat a man, precise crossing ability and the correct awareness to select the appropriate final ball. Add to all this the fierce right foot shot we saw against Shrewsbury and the composure in the box we witnessed against Olympiakos.

In short, what have we got to lose guys?

What say you? Is it time to UNLEASH THE OX?

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7 comments

  • venky says:

    I do think that he should be utilized more but we shouldn’t kill the golden goose as well by being greedy. He WILL get his chances no doubt we should be patient

  • Arsenal1Again says:

    He is better than Walcott already. Chamberlain looks like he has a very big point to prove and from what I’ve seen, he doesn’t need to do much more to succeed. I think Walcott returning much earlier than expected from his usual break, I mean injury, is because he knows his place is seriously under threat. I don’t think Walcott at his best is going to keep Chamberlain out the team.

    Walcott better adapt fast to playing somewhere else. Personally I can see Wenger cashing him in because of Chamberlain being a much better and stronger replacement. Chamberlain looks strong and I suspect he’ll be the build of Baptista in a year or too. He certainly doesn’t look like he’s made of glass like Walcott is.

    Walcott is another potential player who never fulfilled his potential. Chamberlain is already at the place which Walcott should be by now. I’ll stand by Walcott because he’s a Gunner, and I’m only comparing him here with another Gunner. The man needs to pull his socks up or lose his place to a boy.

    • Dave Seager says:

      Arsenal1
      The alternative of course is to revert to the 442 formation that won Wenger all titles and give Theo a run just ahead of RVP with RVO in the Bergkamp playmaker role. Not sure if Gervinho has discipline to play on the left but then Overmars was just as attacking and leave song and Arteta in the Pettit/Vieira 98 or Gilberto/Vieira 2004 central roles.

  • Chux says:

    True I wud play 4-4-1-1 wit Benayoun and THE OX as my wingers Gervinho makes poor decisions d spurs match testified it I doubt Alex wud hav missed dat Gervinho shud b a 30min sub til he learns Walcot a striker and Arsha a CAM in a diamond mid field

  • give him time to learn the ropes.he should work on his defence duties as we should attack and defend as a team.

  • RealityBytes says:

    Give the OX a chance. He can not possibly be worse than Arshavin. At least he would put in the effort both ways which is far more than Arshavin
    is prepared to do these days.

    I would compare him to our new acquisition from Asia but Arsene is hidding the new guy from public view at the moment. No one knows just what this Captain of an Asian National team can do in an Arsenal uniform.

    Where is Eboue when you need him? Shucks, he was released for virtually peanuts and replaced by
    Jenkinson (a useless tier 2 player with 8 games of experience) and our invisible Asian.

    What is Arsene doing to our beloved Arsenal…..

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