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Arsenal Vs Sutton: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain Can Rise Above
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is reshaping his future. As Arsenal travel to Sutton on Monday night, Chamberlain can continue to rise above his team’s struggles.
It has been a desperately miserable month for Arsenal and their fans. Entering the new year with hopes of a first Premier League title in over a decade, Arsene Wenger had marshalled his squad into a position where they were challenging for the league, the FA Cup and were still key contributors in the Champions League.
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Fast forward six weeks and their Premier League hopes are non-existent, they were embarrassed by Bayern Munich in the fist leg of their last 16 tie and only the FA Cup persists as a reasonable chance of lifting a trophy by the end of the season.
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However, while the collective results and performances have been reason to bemoan, there have been glimpses of light, at least on an individual basis. The shining light of the Gunners in recent weeks has been Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. With untimely injuries, suspensions and international responsibilities, Wenger was forced into deploying Chamberlain in a central role, as opposed to his usual wide berth.
In the past, Chamberlain has expressed a desire to play in central midfield and Wenger himself has also declared that he believes he is better suited to a central role, highlighting his powerful play, surging runs forward and accurate distribution as traits that lend themselves well to the position. The Ox has been proving both him and Wenger right with his displays.
His prosperous form started in a five-goal demolition of Southampton in the fourth round of the FA Cup. Now the fifth round is upon us and Chamberlain has the chance to further elevate himself above the struggles of the team. Arsenal travel to Sutton on Monday night in a game where the expectation and pressure are high and the criticism high if they lose.
The non-league side should not pose issues for Chamberlain and his teammates but, after Lincoln qualified for the quarter-finals on Saturday, there are no guarantees in the FA Cup. This is a much trickier tie than many would have you believe and Arsenal will have to be consummate and professional throughout.
Next: Arsenal Vs Sutton: Predicted Starting XI
Oxlade-Chamberlain has the opportunity to put in another stellar performance in the central role, continuing his alter his future, shape his career and rise above the troubles and turbulence of many of his teammates around him.