Is the Ox Arsenal’s Unheralded Hero?
Alex Oxlade Chamberlain is by all accounts an enthusiastic, unassuming lad who gives his all on the pitch for both Arsenal as well as England. Bought from Southampton for a pricey fee, comparisons with Theo Walcott were inevitable. Both were pacy players whose best moments seem to be on the flanks. But Alex isn’t quite Walcott V2.0. He’s a little more and a little less. Theo Walcott has blistering pace, possibly the fastest Englishman to play the game in ages, he has also of late developed a wonderful finishing ability. While the Ox lacks this polishing quality, he brings an entirely different skill to the mix: power.
Power is a curious thing in a football player. It’s one thing to be fast enough to be able to leave defenders chasing shadows but it’s another when the opponents are the Kompanys, the Koscielnys and the Gary Cahills of the world with world class anticipation and tackling who get a nice shoulder in before a run can be made. Power allows for the Ox to shrug off or ride challenges and make the best use of his own considerable pace when being asked to run with the ball in a tight spot. It is a boon for technically gifted players, a prime example being the peerless Thierry Henry. The goal he scored at the Bernabeu in 2006 is an excellent example as he shrugs off Ramos, leaves Roberto Carlos for dead and slotted the ball home.
Oxlade Chamberlain shows similar physical robustness, powering through defences and riding challenges that would knock down other players. His goals against Crystal Palace last season and against Anderlecht at home this season demonstrate the fact. Even in his performance against Man City last night, he was giving Gael Clichy quite the headache in the first half, skinning him repeatedly.
And yet, one feels that the Ox is but on the cusp of greatness. He isn’t Jack Wilshere, carrying the hopes of a nation, he isn’t Theo Walcott, expected continuously to bang in the goals, he is just Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, a young player with huge potential to be world class any time soon and yet without any of the pressures or spotlights faced by his contemporaries.
And that will be just fine for Arsene Wenger, pleased to have a true gem in his hands.