Arsenal: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain Always Has Answers

Arsenal deployed Alex Oxlade-Chamberlin in his preferred position and yet again, the young man had answers despite his fading appearances.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was in the midst of his best ever year in an Arsenal kit when he was yet again pushed to the shadows. The returns of Theo Walcott and Danny Welbeck, the continuing emergence of Lucas Perez and the growing consistency of Alex Iwobi made it look like the Ox was looking at a dim chance of ever even coming on as a sub.

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Despite claims that he wanted to be a central midfielder, and claims from Wenger seconding that, it didn’t seem to be in the cards.

But yet again the Ox has answered. He was pushed back into that favored central against Southampton in the FA Cup (that was the only place he would have fit) and sure enough, he did exactly what we would have wanted.

Aside from a few very minor gaffs (he doesn’t play here very often, after all), the Ox showed tremendous maturity and composure in a crucial position. Between him and Ainsley Maitland-Niles, that holding two was young and inexperienced, but they both did fantastic. Maitland-Niles was referred to as the next Coquelin in the Pain in the Arsenal chat.

The Ox deserves tremendous credit. His scope of passing looked better than ever before and he should have had a couple more assists. It looked like he was wearing Granit Xhaka’s passing boots.

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It used to be that being shoved to the side would make Ox drop all confidence and fade away into frustration. But that is where the credit comes into this the most. He looked nothing like someone who was down or out or even the slightest bit upset.

He exuded tremendous confidence offensively and defensively. He showed attacking tendencies like Ramsey, maturity like Cazorla and passing like Xhaka.

I would love to think that Wenger, in his excellent vantage point, noticed the Ox in his natural position. Mainly because, as it stands, having another option in the center of the pitch would be excellent, especially an attacking-minded one.

While the attack is so cluttered that Lucas and Welbeck are having trouble getting in, the midfield really isn’t. Coq and Ramsey are holding it down while Xhaka serves his suspension and Elneny serves his nation.

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That leaves plenty of room for the Ox. What else can he do? You ask the lad questions and he always comes back with answers. Sounds like it’s time to give him a serious whirl in his natural position.