Match Day: Liverpool vs Arsenal

This thread is a great example of short-term memory.

1. Ox has been very unlucky, which has snowballed into lack of confidence, which brings more misfortune
2. This has caused him to spiral out of form
3. Arsenal fans now believe he has always been like this, which if course he hasn't

Worth remembering that Ox has never had a consistent run in the starting XI. Either he's been on the bench, or he's been experimented with position-wise. If he got the same opportunity Joel Campbell got this season (consistently playing in your favoured position for a good run of games), he'd probably gain confidence -> form -> fortune.

Oxlade-Chamberlain has made nearly 150 appearances for Arsenal. To say he hasn't been given a chance is a myth, he simply hasn't convinced enough to be worthy of starting. Joel Campbell has unfortunately for him, completely eclipsed Ox at RW. Joel is also only a year older than him but gap of maturity and footballing intelligence between the two is staggering.

Sometimes big moves for youngsters just doesn't work out as well. For every Rooney there's a Lukas Podolski at Bayern. It happens, I've got nothing against the lad and he has a great personality; I'm just saying it as it is.

Oxlade-Chamberlain has made nearly 150 appearances for Arsenal. To say he hasn't been given a chance is a myth, he simply hasn't convinced enough to be worthy of starting.

And how many of those 150 appearances have been consistently played in his favoured position over 10+ games in a row?

Joel Campbell has unfortunately for him, completely eclipsed Ox at RW. Joel is also only a year older than him but gap of maturity and footballing intelligence between the two is staggering

What are you talking about. A month ago, people, including yourself, thought Joel Campbell was the worst player on the planet. Ox is out-of-form, nothing more. If he ever gets a chance to be in-form again, you will change your tune and claim Ox was a massive talent the whole time.

I'm not saying Ox is world class, I'm just saying this rollercoaster of hate against our players just because they put in a handful of poor performances is getting ridiculous (in both directions). Ox played as a CM against Milan and was hailed as a world class genius afterwards and the reincarnation of the not-yet-dead Pirlo...and now he's overrated and mediocre because he hasn't been great for 5-6 games.

Joel wasn't great at all. He was AIDS against Gala last year (even Welbz manage to net a hat trick against them). Difference is his desire is evident & his footballing IQ got him through in the end.

I've always said that Ox is a physical monster with great technique. It's not them attributes which is the issue, it never has been. Football isn't only what you can do with the ball at your feet, mental attributes are just as important.

It's the same with Ramsey, he's arguably the closest player to Vieira we've had imo, but the difference is he's nowhere near as smart as what Paddy was in the middle. It seems to be a large issue with British players. There's a plethora of the likes of Ox, Barkley, Wilshere(less so imo), Ramsey, Lallana, Henderson are all not particularly smart footballers. The talents there but it's never been fulfilled.

Rooney is probably the best example, he is easily one of the best footballers England has ever produced but he lacked the desire to ever achieve more than being a glorified bridesmaid at United

This thread is a great example of short-term memory.Worth remembering that Ox has never had a consistent run in the starting XI. Either he's been on the bench, or he's been experimented with position-wise. If he got the same opportunity Joel Campbell got this season (consistently playing in your favoured position for a good run of games), he'd probably gain confidence -> form -> fortune.

Joel's favored position is that of a central striker his statement "Well, I’m happy playing in any position. I can play centrally, but I feel comfortable on the right too and I just try to do the best job I can,” Campbell told Arsenal’s website. Link http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20151109/campbell-i-ll-fight-to-achieve-my-aims#a0Dih2iLw2itSsS5.99

As a matter of fact Ox has had more game time than Joel. Ox has been poor because he tries to be over clever and ends up delivering nothing. He needs to calm down and get back to basics release the ball ASAP than holding it for too long.

Oxlade-Chamberlain in a nutshell

Don't need to tell you what he did

Joel's favored position is that of a central striker his statement "Well, I’m happy playing in any position. I can play centrally, but I feel comfortable on the right too and I just try to do the best job I can,” Campbell told Arsenal’s website.

Well no, as he points out himself, he is comfortable in any position. Including right-forward.

As a matter of fact Ox has had more game time than Joel. Ox has been poor because he tries to be over clever and ends up delivering nothing. He needs to calm down and get back to basics release the ball ASAP than holding it for too long.

Not about game time, it's about consistent run of games in favoured position. Joel Campbell has now played 16 games in a row since October, all in one of his favoured positions (RF). Oxlade-Chamberlain has had seven games in a row, in mixed positions, three of them coming on as a sub. It's simply not a fair comparison.

Give him 16 games in a row on the right wing and see if he's as shit as you all now claim he is. Then we can talk.

Oxlade-Chamberlain in a nutshell Don't need to tell you what he did

In the first image it's clear to me that from Ox's position he sees Walcott as being in an offside position - he's not looking to his right where an opponent is playing Theo onside. Low on confidence he doesn't take the punt, so he waits to see if Theo can get in an onside position, at which point the opportunity is lost. I don't see anything weird about it. Would Özil have made that pass? Sure. But Ox isn't Özil, nor should he strive to be. Ox is a direct attack-minded winger whose game completely relies on making runs and dribbling past opponents...his role is not to serve Theo perfect through balls.

You are talking about him as if he's suddenly Robbie Savage-level.

First column is goals, second column is assists. Last column is minutes played.

Grim reading, more than enough opportunities to make his mark there yet 1 goal and 1 assists is appalling for a winger.

First column is goals, second column is assists. Last column is minutes played. Grim reading, more than enough opportunities to make his mark there yet 1 goal and 1 assists is appalling for a winger.

...in 2014? Who is claiming Ox was good in 2014?

How has he improved though? For me he's essentially the same player as when we bought him. Ability-wise.

How has he improved though? For me he's essentially the same player as when we bought him. Ability-wise.

He's just out-of-form. He's had a few form dips in and out in his Arsenal career, mainly because he's constantly being experimented with in terms of position. Again, I'm not saying Ox is the future of Arsenal and will become our next Henry...I'm just saying he's not as bad as you make him out to be. He has been two or three odd bounces away from being hailed as a genius.

I would've played that through ball... because I wouldnt have even seen the 'offside' hehe

Oxlade-Chamberlain in a nutshell Don't need to tell you what he did

This is one example of many with Oxlade-Chamberlain. His decision making is truly terrible. He has pace, good close control, skill, but that in itself is not good enough. He has no vision and he will never get it. He is a good squad player but that is all. Campbell is not quite as quick, though quick enough, can also keep close control, is strong on the ball, has great vision and can finish. He is simply a better player than the OX.

If you could take Walcott and Chamberlain and roll them into one player , that player would be special. I bring Walcott into it because , like the OX, he is deeply flawed as a footballer. Great pace, but no control and very hit and miss as a finisher. He does possess a good final ball though (at times).

Of the three, i think Campbell is the best all round player.