Arsenal: Let’s Hope ‘Honor’ Is Currency With Alex Oxalde-Chamberlain

Arsenal witnessed a masterclass by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain against Middlesbrough and now it’s time to talk long term. Money and honor are needed.

Arsenal has been trying to make the most out of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for quite some time. Anything to make the young Englishman to reach his full potential.

This year has been like a new beginning. It’s been his best year yet and he has played a diverse array of positions, to pretty solid results. The only problem is that he hasn’t found the most playing time in the world.

As such, he was very open about his future prospects, admitting that a move away from the Emirates, though undesirable, would have to be explored if playing time did not improve.

That was a frightening wake-up call. Losing the Ox was always in the back of minds, but usually it involved losing him as an unfulfilled talent, not as someone on the cusp of brilliance.

However, the Ox has come out, amidst exit rumors, and said some pretty nice things to couple with his ever-improving form.

“It’s a massive honour to play for a team like Arsenal. You’ve got to give it 100 per cent week in, week out, and maybe that had been slipping in the last few weeks,” he said, as quoted by Sky Sports.

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I’m mostly focused on that first part. That it’s a huge honor to play for this club. Honor is a compelling factor in a guys ability to play and the Ox isn’t just talking about the honor he feels. He is showing it.

More than some can say.

The question is still all about how to lock the Ox down. It is going to require money, commitment and faith, all of which are readily available, or at least they should be. All the Ox wants is to be given the chance to make a difference. Every time that chance comes, it pays off. Now they just need to stick with it.

Thankfully, the Ox’s honor is something that doesn’t have a price tag. So long as their is hope to make it at the Emirates, he is going to stick with it. He isn’t so easily bought. That’s how most of Arsenal’s players are, though, it’s just that few are as overt about it as the Englishman.

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Honor is a form of currency. The price that he feels in his shirt will be a major factor (obviously) as he decides his future. Either way, barring a massive switcheroo, a move would be hugely shocking.