When Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain first arrived on the scene for Arsenal back in the summer of 2011, many voices among the Emirates faithful believed that this up and coming young talent had everything necessary to make it right at the very top for Arsene Wenger’s side.
But the 2015/16 campaign has proven a somewhat frustrating affair for the 22-year-old wide-man in front of goal, as the former Southampton youngster only has the one solitary league goal to his name so far.
So whilst the potentially exciting English international looks set to miss out on Arsenal’s next run of fixtures due to a disappointingly timed injury picked up in recent weeks, must Arsene Wenger wave goodbye to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the summer, or will the quick-footed wide-man eventually prove himself at the Emirates?
Without wanting to overly criticise a young up and coming asset who is still in the early stages of his footballing career, this is a player who hasn’t quite hit the ground running at Arsenal as everybody initially expected him to.
For one reason or another, Oxlade-Chamberlain is yet to truly develop into an out-in-out goal threat for the Gunners. Although the 22-year-old can prove effective on his day, the former St. Mary’s graduate has been criticised for running into trouble on more than the odd occasion this season, as well as failing to produce that all important final ball.
The current England international has also looked short of form when providing assists for Arsene Wenger’s side, and although a fair amount of untapped potential still arguably resides in the player at this particular stage in his career, it remains difficult to see how Arsenal can justifiably incorporate him in their first team plans in future seasons, if his current form out on the pitch fails to improve.
If the Gunners really want to consider themselves genuine title challengers, as well as also registering a more meaningful threat upon the Champions League scene, perhaps players such as Oxlade-Chamberlain must ultimately be deemed surplus to requirements.
But as the Arsenal winger burst onto the scene at a particularly young age, it remains easy to forget that this is a player who still has time to develop his overall game. Oxlade-Chamberlain hasn’t proven the most effective asset for Arsenal in recent years, but as his current level of promise still remains partially exciting, now is no time for Arsene Wenger to completely give up on this potentially useful talent.
He therefore deserves another season at the Emirates to really offer a showcase of his talents in front of the Arsenal support, and perhaps even go on to achieve the once captivating status many initially expected of the 22-year-old just a few short seasons ago.
Most top-flight stars in the English Premier League suffer campaigns to forget at some point, so whilst the immediate future looks bleak for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, he is by no means finished at the Emirates, regardless of the level of criticism that has come his way in 2015/16.
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