Arsenal: The Ox Can Grow To Surpass Mahrez

Arsenal’s chase of Riyad Mahrez isn’t going anywhere, but that’s okay because, given the chance, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain can surpass him.

This isn’t going to be a popular take. But I’m feeling feisty. Arsenal’s transfer window has taken on a feel of desperation. Even Arsene Wenger has admitted that he needs to sign a center back, lest his beloved Arsenal be short-staffed. He has also made mention that a striker will need to be had. Giroud is, after all, still only one man.

Yet, somehow it has been Riyad Mahrez that’s been stealing the transfer headlines. The Algerian winger is most likely staying put at Leicester City, and for whatever reason that has Arsenal fans incensed.

I’m not worried. Mahrez would be great, no doubt, and he is only 25, so that’s cool too. But I take pride in seeing Arsenal’s existing crop turn into something. Bring in Mahrez and Iwobi, the Ox and Joel Campbell will all be playing Monopoly on the bench while Mahrez runs the role. Some may like that prospect, but for me, I’d rather see the Ox rise to his potential and do what he can do.

And ‘what he can do’ is overtake Mahrez. There, I said it.

The Ox is almost 23 years old. He’s still two years younger than Mahrez. And, although a player’s ‘potential’ means diddly in the long run, the Ox was overladen with potential from the age of 18. The lad can just do everything and, as we have seen, when you get him full of confidence, he literally can do everything.

I don’t think it’s absurd to think that the Ox can overtake Mahrez. Many will doubt because of Mahrez’s one big year, but again, I am leery of ‘one big year’s. Mahrez showed a lot of promise at 23 and 24 years old, but it wasn’t until he was 25 that he truly broke out.

For the Ox, he has shown tremendous promise since he was 18. It has been no fault of his that he can’t hold down a role – he keeps getting hurt. Add that to the fact that he’s been so young and it’s a wonder how we lose faith so quickly.

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The Ox has only had one season where me made more starts than substitutions. That was in 2014/15, when the role was his if he wanted it. Unfortunately, he couldn’t make the most of it, but consider the fact that he was just 21. We need to take a deep breath. It is a rare talent that never slips up at 21 years old. Since that season, he has been injury-ridden and blocked by other players. I think last year could have been huge for Ox, but after his stunning goal against Chelsea, he was inexplicably dropped.

Give the Ox this year. If he can stay healthy, that role is his and there is no questioning that. Seeing him truly utilize his strength and speed combination, which is such a rarity in a player, is truly special. Not even Mahrez can rival the Ox’s versatility.

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This is the year of the Ox. We shouldn’t be rooting for Wenger to sign someone to block him, we should be rooting for him to convert what we have seen him do into consistency. This guy still has a massive future at Arsenal. Everyone starts somewhere. Just because Mahrez is currently superior to the Ox doesn’t mean the Ox won’t be superior in time.

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