Arsene Wenger: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott are bringing the best out of each other
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott are bringing the best out of each other as they both enjoy resurgences in form, according to Arsene Wenger.
Oxlade-Chamberlain scored both goals for Arsenal in a 2-0 EFL Cup win over Reading, taking his tally for the season to five. That mark is already the best he has enjoyed under Wenger and helped him put pressure on Walcott, who has secured the right wing berth with a string of fine performances over recent weeks.
But the 23-year-old, looking to prove himself to Wenger in the penultimate season of his contract, will certainly feel that he is stating his case for a regular starting role despite the competition posed by Walcott, Alex Iwobi and Lucas Perez.
“Sometimes before you felt [Oxlade-Chamberlain] acted like he didn’t deserve to score in front of goal,” Wenger said. “Now you have hope whenever he has the ball that something can happen. He is powerful and finishes well.
“He worked very hard in training and is following Walcott, on the same trajectory. They’re lifting each other but they can play on both flanks as well.”
Oxlade-Chamberlain suggested earlier this month that he would consider his Arsenal future in the summer if he did not get more opportunities as a starter, having found himself superseded by Walcott and Iwobi in Wenger’s starting XI.
But the Arsenal manager rejected the suggestion that starting opportunities may be limited for the winger, particularly if he can continue in his rich vein of form.
“He’s not a long way away from the starting XI, he played against Ludogorets, of course tonight. Ludogorets in my mind was an important game. He came on against Middlesbrough on Saturday, he’s regularly involved.
“He just needs to continue to work like he does and play with the same spirit [if he wants to regularly start games].”
???? Only one star man tonight#AFCvRFC As it happened ⤵️https://t.co/vjdtpoJlZG pic.twitter.com/4I8TYLAdkQ
— Standard Sport (@standardsport) October 25, 2016
In the past Wenger has warned Oxlade-Chamberlain that he can be too hard on himself but as one of the senior faces in Arsenal’s attacking line tonight he proved himself to be a leader.
Two well-taken low strikes, the second benefitting from a fortuitous deflection, were richly deserved and convinced Wenger that he is seeing a changed Oxlade-Chamberlain.
“The quality of his concentration, of his focus is sharper, more determined,” Wenger added. “He has worked a lot mentally to be really focused.
“It comes out every day in training, now it is starting to come out in the games.”
ArticleWenger: Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain bringing best out of each otherAlex Oxlade-ChamberlainTheo WalcottArsenalArsene WengerArsenal vs Reading: EFL Cup In Pictures
Arsenal vs Reading: EFL Cup In Pictures
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