Arsenal v Everton: 5 Things We Learned

4. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain still needs time

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This does not mean what you think it means. The Ox does not need that much more development. We have seen him look absolutely smashing on the pitch and take it to the opposition. Think FA Community Shield. He is still young and could benefit from some maturation. But who couldn’t?

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What the Ox needs is some game time with Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil. The two cogs of Arsenal’s machine did not look on the same page as the Ox and it left the young Englishman fending for himself at times, which never works out well.

Aaron Ramsey is out for a month, so that will give the Ox at least a handful of matches to learn to work with two of the best players in football. He needs to learn that he does not have to do it all himself. Everyone benefits from having Ozil on the pitch, the Ox just has to learn to benefit from it too.

It may simply be a matter of age, however. Oxlade-Chamberlain frequently looked like he was trying to single-handedly pick apart a very stout Everton defense. That is not needed and it is not necessary.

Give him some time.

Next: Number 3