With The African Cup of Nations due to end in three weeks time or so, Gervinho will be making a return to the Emirates, where Marouane Chamakh will also be waiting in the wings. After the results of late and the fans now adopting Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as a new favourite, it leads to the question – what will happen when Gervinho returns? Will Arsene Wenger decide to drop the exciting youngster in favour of the Ivorian?
I actually had the pleasure of being at the Emirates yesterday afternoon and for me Chamberlain was brilliant. The 18-year-old has an abundance of pace and a great work ethic. In addition, the former Saints winger seems to bring out the best in Theo Walcott, who himself had a blinder, assisting with three of Arsenal’s seven goals.
It is quite easy to simply shrug this off with a simple ‘no’, Wenger shouldn’t drop Chamberlain. However, we need to bear in mind that he is still only young and learning. Chambo has also had a few niggling knee injuries, so I suspect Arsene will have a hard decision on his hands than some of the fans give him credit for.
Gervinho, currently at the African Cup of Nations with the Ivory Coast, was brought in from Lille in the summer to play in the role that is currently being occupied by Chamberlain. However, the youngster has done brilliantly since the Ivorian departed and yesterday bagged his first two Premier League goals for Arsenal.
Since joining Arsenal, Gervinho has managed to make 24 appearances, scoring 4 goals along the way, while Chambo has made 12 appearances and bagged 4 goals for the Gunners.
On paper it also looks like Chamberlain’s record is slightly better, but this is partly due to Arsenal playing better earlier on in the season when Gervinho got his games.
IF Wenger decides to drop Chamberlain then the Frenchman will come under great scrutiny from the fans and maybe some of the players. We have already seen it happen this season when Robin van Persie and the Arsenal fans questioned Wenger’s decision to substitute him against Manchester United a few weeks back, so we can only imagine how it would go down if Chambo is dropped.
In my eyes, the Ox deserves a run in the first-team. It doesn’t matter if Gervinho is back or not. However, Wenger is known for protecting young talent and would not want him to suffer the same fate as Jack Wilshere has this season after playing over 40 games last term for us.
So the question of should/will Arsene drop Alex is a very difficult one to answer. Walcott could also be in trouble to keep his position, but it seems Wenger has faith in the 22-year-old speedy winger. Is Chamberlain essential to the squad’s success? I think so. He seems to bring out the best in certain players, which is good to see. But I would hate for him to be over-used and end up injured as a result.
I for one do not envy Wenger’s decision. No doubt the fans will want Chamberlain to play every game and no one can fault them for that. Let’s just hope that he continues to grow and develop as a player as the games roll by.
Do you think Wenger will drop AOC in favour of Gervinho? Do you think the youngster should be a starting for us week in, week out?
Give us your thoughts on the matter
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Seriously we all have different options but if we seriously look how we play with wingers walcott has done anything that great comparin to Gervhino. The problem with theo is he can’t finish, his final ball is crap and as a winger he can’t really take one player he just runs with ball side to side which I thing that war he’s only good at but Gervhino he has a gud final ball, can take on players, quick as well but he lacks the finish touch so if I was wenger I would pick Gervhino & Ox on the wings with RvP up front. Ps In would pick gervhino all day!!!
Can anybody say if Bothelo will be eligible for a work permit in the summer because he is going 4 1/2 years on loan now? Surely could use him for next season.
Wenger should drop Ramsey(who is also still developing) and play Ox in centre attacking midfield, with Theo and Gervinho on the flanks.
He can’t bench A.O.C 4 GERV 4 now b’cos alex is now very hot dan gerv. 4 example alex played 12 matches with 4 goals and gerv played 24 matches with 4 goals. So alex played 3 matches with 1 goal while gerv played 6 matches with 1 goal, dis show dat we need alex than gerv, but the problem we have is dat wenger should not rush him like my jacky b’cos of stress fracture.
Wow – Possibly the hardest to read post of the year. Congratulations, have a cake.
You, my friend, are a shining example of why this country is going down the pan. You speak a completely different language to the Queens English you should be talking. Muggy Cunt!!
I would go 4 4 2 for the rest of the year. Drop ramsey let arteta get forward put the young lads on the wings and gervinho up front. Come on the gunners
Im with u on the 442 but I would put theo up top with rvp feeding him . Ox and gerv wide and arteta and song cm . Replace song with jack when he comes back. Theo’s need less time to think and we should use him like a young Anelka. Let him run onto all of rvp genius balls . Rvp is not in the game enough as the last man . He is far to skilful to be wasted there . This way theo would get 20 a season . Rvp 15 , the 2 wide guys 10-12 each and our 2 cm around 5 goals a piece . That’s around 70 goals plus whatever the defence chip in with . To rely on rvp to score 60 goals this season to get top 4 is a joke !!! At this rate it appears we are gonna have to
Why can’t some of u people write correctly . It is difficult to understand you . Especially when you don’t use any punctuation marks and can’t spell correctly !!!
“he is far to skilful to be wasted there”. Talking about spelling mistakes? It should’ve been ‘too’. Practice before you preach!
Whos far to skilful to be wasted there …. And ‘too’ where . In the phrase – difficult to understand – I think u will find I’m correct u inbred
Way to make yourself look extra stupid dude !
Alex can play in ramsey’s position too, i will drop ramsey and play the three . but that will be unfair to ramsey. another question is when wilshere is back will ramsey be drop cos i can’t c sonG n arteta droping from their positions
Ramsey should be dropped now for Rosicky why wait for Jack?
There are so many games we will need 4 players rotating in the front 3 positions so Ox does not need to be dropped for anyone.
It will serve us well to use the ox like a rooney. I don’t see any difference between them much. That will be ramsey’s position while we play theo\gerv flankly.