Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain needs to deliver for Arsenal to ensure massive potential is not wasted

Greg Lea shines a light on Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, an unquestionably talented player who needs to kick on to fulfill his potential.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has seen his career stutter due to a succession of injuries but there is no denying his talent. Adrian Dennis / AFP

Alexis Sanchez collected possession on the left-hand side of the box and looked up to assess his options.

With two opponents closing him down to prevent a cross to the back post, Sanchez chose to cut the ball back towards Santi Cazorla, who was lurking unmarked on the edge of the box.

The Spaniard’s shot was blocked by the outstretched leg of a defender, but Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was on hand to turn the ball home and send the Emirates Stadium crowd into raptures.

While the opportunity from six yards out was a favourable one, Oxlade-Chamberlain showed great composure and technique to rifle the bouncing ball into the roof of the net to draw his side level in a vital Premier League encounter.

Oxlade-Chamberlain’s last goal in the top flight was not only a good strike but an important one too.

The only disappointing thing for Arsenal fans is that it came in the 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur way back in September 2014.

The 22-year-old has featured in 34 Premier League encounters in the subsequent 16 months but failed to get on the scoresheet.

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In his defence, Oxlade-Chamberlain has netted against Monaco in the Uefa Champions League and Chelsea in the Community Shield in that time, as well as netting twice in England colours.

Measuring his performances by simply totting up his goal tally is not entirely fair, either: Oxlade-Chamberlain is not a striker and putting the ball past the opposition keeper is therefore not the primary function he is expected to fulfil.

Nevertheless, his lack of goals in the Premier League is reflective of his recent difficulties all-round.

It would be excessive to say that Oxlade-Chamberlain has endured a poor campaign this season, but it is certainly true that he has struggled to push on in the manner that many people anticipated.

Oxlade-Chamberlain possesses a fine blend of technical and athletic gifts, with his pace supplemented by fine close control and an astute eye for a pass.

His current shortage of confidence — Wenger publicly noted in September that Oxlade-Chamberlain needs to believe in himself more — appears to be impacting on his ability to deliver.

He has often been guilty of making wrong decisions when in promising positions, as well as failing to provide a consistent end product.

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Indeed, as well as the dry patch in front of goal, Oxlade-Chamberlain has not recorded a single assist in the league since December 2014.

“We’re in a strong position now, it’s where we’d like to be,” Arsenal’s No 15 said of his side’s title bid last month.

“There have been some hiccups along the way and I’m sure there will be a few more but we need to build on this half of the season and go into the New Year positively.”

Similarly, there have been ups and downs in Oxlade-Chamberlain’s fledgling career to date, something that has also been the case for the vast majority of young footballers at the same stage of their development.

The 22-year-old is now in a position where he needs to kick on and establish himself in Wenger’s starting XI.

While injuries have afforded him that opportunity in recent weeks, Oxlade-Chamberlain has not done enough to ensure he will remain in the side when players such as Sanchez, Danny Welbeck, Cazorla and Francis Coquelin — the absence of the latter pair has seen Aaron Ramsey move into central midfield from his previous position on the right — return to full fitness.

An impressive display against Liverpool on Wednesday night would be a huge step in the right direction.

Oxlade-Chamberlain is a highly talented and intelligent young footballer who has the potential to achieve a great deal in the game.

Now he just needs to show it once more.

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