I will miss the Ox
Does this hurt you or not?
Ox’s introduction to the Liverpool faithful, in his new Liverpool kit, and made at the England camp hurt me.
He wanted to leave, granted. And it’s understandable how he wanted to move.
But it bothered me since it’s a waste.
Emergence
When he arrived, he was the next big thing, seemingly.
He had a mammoth performance vs. Man United (when ironically a current Arsenal player scored against us and I wonder who “dat guy” was, I cannot remember…) and in the Champions League vs. AC Milan.
However, he to be frank never realised that potential.
I believe it’s more our fault than his.
Arsenal’s fault or Player’s?
No fixed position
I believe he never got the chance to structure a fixed position.
Towards the end of 16/17, he played very capably as a right wing-back. However, he has played as a more orthodox winger, a central midfielder, a right-back, and a left wing-back.
He has the responsibility for his own career, ultimately. Though Wenger has not contributed to this, and at 24, he needs a steadier environment.
I can fully empathise with him, since he should be in his prime now.
Age
Most top players by 24 have a fixed identity/position. In our current team, Ozil did. Alexis, Koscielny, Xhaka, Ramsey, Theo, Lacazette, Giroud, Welbeck, etc. all were in their current roles at that age. The Ox, reaching the prime of his career, has not found himself “footballingly” yet. He does well for England, but at club level he hasn’t.
At Liverpool, he may well do so, and get in their midfield. He was primed to leave, and good luck to him.
Environment
It could be that the environment at Arsenal is pretty stale for him.
Wenger seems great to play under. And there are top players such as Alexis, Ozil, Lacazette, etc.
But then he has become stale, and he needed a change. Liverpool, as a club with a fresh manager, good young players, and Champions League football, is a good offering. Liverpool, in my mind is a bigger club than we are (only by virtue of more European trophies) but they do look more progressive. If Rodgers were still there, there is no way he would join them. It’s about a non-progressive environment, and again good luck to him under Klopp, as he may experience the exact opposite.
Reflects badly on us
It reflects poorly on us that he has left.
As per Cesc, Nasri, van Persie, and potentially next year Alexis, Ozil, or even Ramsey.
It’s evident that we require change, and once we do, we can retain our top players, and regain the heights that we wish to.
So to you, Mr. Oxlade-Chamberlain, I’m sorry it didn’t work out at Arsenal. But I wish you the best at Liverpool. At least you have already got acquainted with the stadium this season, in a way….
Well Marble Halls I hope you have you flack jacket on!!!
MarbleHallsTV is an Arsenal social media account on Twitter, Facebook and Youtube. Been a Gooner since the 90s, inspired by Ian Wright, then Bergkamp, Vieira, Henry, Pires, Campbell, Rosicky, Koscielny, Ozil and Sanchez. A digital marketer/entrpreneur by profession, born in UK living in the Americas now.
Do not accept that it was our fault he didn’t become a better player. The Ox was given plenty of opportunities to hold down a place in the team and he fluffed them all. We are better off with the money which can go towards a player that has the skill to win the ball and then pass to one of our own players. If you saw the England game last night you’ll see what I mean, real skill in taking the ball away from the opposition, only to then pass it back to them, it’s almost the Ox’s trademark.
I WILL MISS HIM, BUT HIS SALE WAS LONG OVERDUE. HE WAS ONE OF THE AVERAGE PLAYERS IN AN ARSENAL SHIRT. I WISH HIM WELL BUT I KNOW IT WONT BE A LOSS TO THE CLUB. our coach should improve on his team selection in the next game, hector to go back to his position. and elneny needs a chance in midfield.
I think there were only about 4 players in the Arsenal team who really wanted to attack. Ox , Alexis, and the two full backs. When the Ox received the ball there was usually only one direction he was going in. I remember he played in the centre and had a blinder. Wenger said after the match that was his best position and also stated that that was the position the Ox wanted to play in. So for the next game Wenger played in as a wing back. Ox never hid in a match, he never went on walk-about. He left Arsenal and took a pay cut. That’s shows how much he was desperate to leave Wenger, as was Alexis, Belerin, and various others. We need a lot of new players and hopefully they will have the same determination to run the extra mile.
I agree with Geekaybee. I don`t intend to repeat his attributes, instead I forecast that Klopp will make him into the player he should have been. He will be a box to box stormtrooper just as so many of his players are and we will regret not nurturing the talents he had. The faults Trugun refers to, could and should have been coached out of him but that is something Wenger could not do.