Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey And Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain Need Confidence Boost

By Jabari LeGendre

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Gooners around the world are certainly on a bit of high right now after Arsenal’s 3-0 drubbing of Manchester United at the Emirates last Sunday. This was clearly a statement game for the Gunners who have looked very shaky during this young season. It is still early but Arsenal currently sit two points behind Manchester City atop the table. What is most encouraging about this latest victory is the manner in which it came.

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The two players who will always receive the most attention from fans, pundits and opposing defenses are Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez. Together, this tantalizing duo create the two most expensive signings in the club’s history. Last season Alexis Sanchez was crowned Arsenal’s player of the year in his first campaign with Arsenal. Mesut Ozil has not received quite the same warm reception since he arrived in England, however there is no doubt that the German World Cup winner is a world-class talent.

Ozil and Alexis are the perfect contrasting attacking pair.

Alexis is a dazzling fireball of energy, whose pace, power and sheer will has ingratiated him to the Arsenal fan base instantaneously. Ozil on the other hand is a subtle wizard whose vision and imagination makes him a less flashy but incredibly devastating player. Evidence of their growing partnership was on full display for the first goal against Manchester United.

The entire movement was a beautiful team effort. Bellerin showed off his blistering pace to beat Ashley Young to the byline and attempt a cross from Ozil’s delayed lead pass. Coquelin did a great job of flying in to keep the ball alive in United’s final third. Ramsey’s pass was weighted perfectly as well to release Ozil. However, it was Mesut and Alexis who linked up superbly for the finish.

Unfortunately there were two names who should have added to Arsenal’s joy on Sunday, and those two players are Aaron Ramsey and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlin.

At the moment both players find themselves on the outside looking in, to a degree. Before the season started the Ox was pegged by his teammates as the player who would go on to have a huge season. Unfortunately Oxlade-Chamberlain has found it difficult to break into the first team. He has been reduced to a peripheral role off the bench. Aaron Ramsey, who was Arsenal’s player of the year in 2013/14, has been shunned to the right wing where his influence is slightly curtailed.

Both of these players had a chance of getting on the score sheet against the Red Devils, but simply failed to execute. Ramsey was guilty of missing a sitter when Alexis found him with a beautifully lofted pass from the edge of the 16-yard-box. The Welshman came storming in from deep ready to put home his first goal of the season yet he inexplicably fired over the crossbar. His miscue seemed to signify a player who was just overthinking his touch.

The Ox came on in the second half and as always the young Englishman was lively. In the 91st minute he had the chance to make the scoreline 4-0 as he ran onto a lovely through ball from Hector Bellerin. The Ox had the right idea to chip David De Gea but unfortunately his shot clanged off the crossbar.

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At the moment the trio of Alexis, Ozil and Walcott are playing at a very high level. Ozil and Alexis seem to be building a chemistry that should absolutely terrify opposing defenses. Theo is improving every day as a center forward and he is slowly but surely putting his critics (me included) to rest. He already has four goals and three assists to his name in all competitions, proving that he maybe a much better option than Olivier Giroud at the point of attack.

However, if Arsenal are really going to kick on and win the League then they will need the flair of Rambo and the Ox to give them that added punch. Both players had chances to get their first goals and were unlucky to walk away empty handed (especially Oxlade-Chamberlin). They are popping up in the right places, though, and that is half the battle in football.

With the international break upon us it would be great to see these two Arsenal men get goals for their respective countries and come back to BPL with the confidence boost that they need.

Next: Arsenal's Top 10 Prospects

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