Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal Key Against Leicester Is Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

By Josh Sippie

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 24: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain of Arsenal during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on January 24, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 24: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain of Arsenal during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on January 24, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal’s match against Leicester could make or break Arsenal’s title clash and it all starts with choosing the starting XI. Is this what Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain needs?

Arsene Wenger had to make a change following the Southampton match. Given the lack of options Arsenal actually have, he turned to one of the troops who had a bit of a stinker against the Saints – Joel Campbell. While Campbell has been incredibly solid for Arsenal in the wake of Alexis Sanchez’s injuries and the inconsistencies of the rest of the wingers.

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That being said, the change worked. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s inclusion against Bournemouth was a positive force on the game. It was actually the Ox’s first positive match on the wings since the Community Shield.

Arsene Wenger may have pinpointed the Ox as a central midfielder, but any current success he is going to find is going to be on the right wing. That is where there is a wide open opportunity, as opposed to central midfield where there is not an opening for the next decade (sorry Elneny).

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That being said, there is a major opportunity coming up against Leicester City. The match figures to be an open affair. That is, if this match follows the same mold as the previous. Given the similarities between what the squads possess now and what they did last time out, the open theme will continue.

Therefore it would not be the worst opportunity to give the Ox a second match in the starting XI. Seeing as how he was one of the better performers against Bournemouth, he certainly does not deserve to be dropped (then again, neither did Joel Campbell, but I digress).

Many have been calling this season a failure for the Ox, and it definitely has been so far. He had a wide open opportunity to claim the starting role but given sparse opportunities and the rise of Campbell, it never worked out. 

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Yet again, Arsenal find themselves at a point where they can give the Ox a tremendous opportunity in a game that seems handpicked for his success. It will give the Ox a chance to put himself up against the league leaders. Not only that, but the game, as mentioned earlier, figures to be an open match, giving the Ox plenty of green to stretch his legs.

Oxlade-Chamberlain may actually be one of the key figures in this match, as he provides something Arsenal did not have last time at King Power Stadium – width on the right. If he can get himself into the form we saw against Bournemouth, he will add an extra dimension that could kick start his Arsenal career.

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This is not do or die for the Ox. He is only 22 and this will not be the last chance Wenger has him. However, Wenger has to hand him this chance because it could prove to be a defining moment.

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