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Arsenal Has Huge Part to Play in the Future of English Football
By Josh Sippie
It was not that long ago that Arsene Wenger was being heavily criticized for being one of the chief causes of English Football’s decline. In the 2007/8 season there were quotas being discussed to prevent Wenger from playing teams that contained zero English players. Obviously Wenger strictly opposed such measures.
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Even in recent memory, Wenger has never felt over-inclined to force his sparse English contingent into his starting squad.
Noawadays, things are a bit different. Arsenal is the proud home of 6 English National team players: Danny Welbeck, Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo Walcott, Calum Chambers and Kieran Gibbs.
Danny Welbeck was tops in the Euro Qualifying charts up until this weekend, which he missed due to injury. Welbeck has never mirrored his club struggles at the international level. It has been quite the opposite. He has scored .25 goals per appearance for Arsenal. For country he has a .42 goals per appearance.
Then their is Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The Ox showcased against San Marino, earning the praise of Michael Owen as he played superbly while delivering an assist in the rout. The Ox was starting over Raheem Sterling so as to see what he could contribute. It is pretty safe to say he made a strong case for himself. Given the raw potential of the Ox, all he needs to do is hone his craft and neither England nor Arsenal will be able to sit him.
Jack Wilshere is in much the same boat. Roy Hodgson once said that he wants to build this English team around Wilshere. That is hard to do when he is always hurt. However, if the young Englishman can stay healthy, he will be an elite force and the English side will run at Wilshere’s beck and call. He has that ability.
Theo Walcott is as much a wildcard for England as he is for Arsenal. He scored twice from the right wing in the San Marino rout yet he has had no such luck at striker for Arsenal.
Kieran Gibbs is ignored slightly less in the National side than he is at Arsenal. He has always seemed to impress but it is never enough. Calum Chambers figures to be a big part of the future even if he does not contribute yet.
The English National side has been a bit down recently. They were dumped in the group stages of the 2014 World Cup. However that may be turning around, largely due to the Arsenal contingent. England sit top of their group in the Euro Qualifiers. Youngsters like Ross Barkley, Jonjo Shelvey, John Stones and Harry Kane all figure to be key pieces as well. But if you strip England of their Arsenal crop, the team’s quality dips massively.
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Not too far down the road, Arsenal figure to have 4 starters in the English National side. If everything goes right, Wilshere will be the midfield hub with Welbeck still leading the attack. The Ox will always have a place in any side and Hodgson will find room for him. Calum Chambers also figures to be lining up next to Stones in the years ahead.
However, things could be different. If the Ox and Wilshere cannot stay healthy, England has to rely on Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson. Neither is a terrible option. That being said, neither is as prominent on the ball as Arsenal’s options. Sterling has never been able to convert his club success to international success. Henderson has his qualities but he lacks the same prolific abilities that Wilshere can possess. Finding success for England and finding that extra helping of quality may come down to keeping Wilshere and the Ox healthy.
It is nice to see the Three Lions turning it around, particularly at the feet of some young, quality players. They say it is the golden age of Belgian Football, with so many players hitting their peak at around the same time. That may very well be true. Yet England’s golden age cannot be far off with so many stars-in-the-making in their young twenties.
Next: Arsenal Must Retain Mathieu Debuchy
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