Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal: Not even Kylian Mbappe makes up for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain loss

By Andrew Dowdeswell

PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 28: Kylian Mbappe of France makes his way onto the pitch prior to the International Friendly match between France and Spain at the Stade de France on March 28, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 28: Kylian Mbappe of France makes his way onto the pitch prior to the International Friendly match between France and Spain at the Stade de France on March 28, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images) /
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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is reportedly wanting to leave Arsenal after becoming frustrated with a lack of support from the club and Arsene Wenger. Not even signing Kylian Mbappe would make up for his potential departure.

Every club has a set of values and principles that should loosely be followed by those who govern and manager. West Ham United should play bright, vibrant attacking football, Liverpool should be a fortress at Anfield, Manchester United should develop homegrown players, giving them the chance to shine on the biggest stage. And it is the same for Arsenal.

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In a similar way to United, Arsenal’s philosophies stem from Arsene Wenger, and one of the more prominent approaches is the youth policy of the club. While it does not necessarily stem from homegrown players, it is a tactic that acquires young talent, develops them in-house, and then provides them with the opportunity to flourish in the first team.

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It challenges the notion of spending your way to success, spurning the flashy, big-name additions in favour of youthful development. It doesn’t always work but there is a pride taken in watching a young player who has been at the club for a number of years begin to forge a role for himself in the first team. That is the case with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and it is why his rumoured departure would be so devastating.

Chamberlain is reportedly wanting to leave Arsenal after feeling slighted by Wenger and the club with contract negotiations not being as forefront and significant as he would have liked. Liverpool have been sniffing around his situation, and with just one year remaining on his current deal, Chamberlain does hold the power at the negotiating table.

There is, unfortunately, a growing chance that Chamberlain could indeed leave the club. If that is the case, then not even a remarkable addition of Kylian Mbappe could make up for the lost ground. While Mbappe may be the player with the greater natural talent, the emblematic symbolism that Chamberlain holds with Wenger’s youthful approach is difficult to replicate through mere signings.

Chamberlain’s progression through the club is the perfect representation of Wenger’s hopes when he acquires these talented players at such a young age. Mbappe is another who would hope to follow in Chamberlain’s footsteps but he would not make up for the loss of the Ox.

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Chamberlain is entering the prime of his career. He has proven he has a bright and prosperous future ahead of him. He is a player of great ability and great symbolism. And he could be about to leave. That is truly devastating. Not even the addition of Mbappe could make up for that.

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