Arsenal’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain ‘not happy enough with his performance’ worries Arsene Wenger

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 'sees only what he has not done well, not enough what he has done well' says Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger of his young playmaker.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain shown during a team training session on Monday ahead of Arsenal's Champions League match against Olympiakos. John Sibley / Action Images / Reuters / September 28, 2015

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger feels the intensity of the Premier League can impact on preparations for the club's European campaign.

The club host Olympiakos on Tuesday night needing to kick-start their Champions League campaign following a disappointing defeat away to Dinamo Zagreb on the opening matchday.

While the Greek side were coasting to a fifth straight domestic league win – 3-0 up at half-time against PAS Giannina in an eventual 5-1 victory – on Saturday, Arsenal had to come through a battling contest at Leicester City before eventually running out 5-2 winners.

Wenger believes having to reproduce such focused displays in quick succession could be one factor on progression in Europe, with three of the four English sides having lost their opening Champions League matches.

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“It is true that mentally you cannot ease off before a Champions League game as some others can,” Wenger said.

“Olympiakos won comfortably on Saturday. When we were in a high intensity game at Leicester, they were safe after 20 minutes.

“Dinamo Zagreb played on Saturday and they took three players off at half-time. I cannot do that at Leicester.”

Wenger added: “For sure the Premier League is demanding and consuming energy wise, mentally more than physically because physically you recover.”

Midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could come back into contention for a place in the starting XI, having impressed in last week’s League Cup win at Tottenham Hotspur.

Wenger feels the 22-year-old needs to believe in what he can achieve.

“I see him train every day, he is dedicated, focused, hungry,” the Arsenal manager said.

“His dad said he lacks a bit of self-belief and I can confirm that because he is very critical of himself, but that is positive and a sign of top-level sportsmen.

“You have to, of course, find the right balance, not happy with what you do without harming the confidence.

“He is maybe not happy enough with his performance after the games and sees only what he has not done well, not enough what he has done well.”

Wenger believes Oxlade-Chamberlain can only get better.

“He is in the English national team, he plays many games for Arsenal. You become a complete player at 23, then from 23 to 30 is certainly where you are at your best,” the French coach said.

“Alex has the future ahead and a bright one.”

Wenger must decide whether to stick with Petr Cech in goal or again opt to give David Ospina some game time, as in both Zagreb and against Spurs.

“I just want to say it was not because I have decided Ospina plays in the Champions League. It will go game by game and there can be a different decision,” he said.

“I need to give him games and I think he is a top-level goalkeeper, but that doesn’t mean that he will play tomorrow.”

Wenger believes competition can only be a positive.

“That is our job, our job is about selection and competing with other players. I think he does that extremely well,” the Arsenal manager added.

“I am fortunate to have two players of this quality. He is much younger than Petr Cech and he will get games at the top level, don’t worry.”

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