Arsenal desperate to break trophy dam, says Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
theguardian
Arsenal desperate to break trophy dam, says Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
The 20-year-old winger recognises that 'winning the first one is the hard part' as he takes on Wigan in the FA Cup semi-final
If humour is a fine antidote to pressure, then Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain must be a handy person to have around the Arsenal dressing room at a time when the heat is whacked up. The 20-year-old demonstrates a fine knack for breaking the tension when conversation turns, slightly awkwardly, to his recollections of a recent afternoon of turmoil.
There is a brief pause as he considers his account of that 6-0 humiliation at Chelsea, and his role in the focal point when he stretched to tip away Eden Hazard's shot with a hand, only for the hullabaloo to turn farcical as the referee Andre Marriner sent off Kieran Gibbs in a case of mistaken identity. "It was a nightmare day," he begins, his expression bashful. "People have asked if I am a midfielder or a winger, but I showed maybe I can play in goal." The gag is delivered with expert timing and a deadpan expression.
Coping mechanisms are required for any young player who bears considerable hopes for club and country. At the moment a place in the FA Cup final, a top-four Premier League finish, and a berth in England's World Cup party are at stake. Pressure is unavoidable, so all methods for easing the load are welcome.
Fortunately for Oxlade-Chamberlain, he appears to be well stocked in that department. As well as his line in dry humour, and a ready supply of common sense, his father, Mark, a former England international, is always there for advice. The mix of a warm personality and cool head have helped Oxlade-Chamberlain to deal with the turbulent moments that have afflicted Arsenal in recent weeks. His confidence does not seem dented. His keen sense of determination appears undimmed.
The broader reflections of the Chelsea debacle show how he is trying to absorb lessons from whatever this season throws at him. "The whole situation was crazy," he says. "Prior to that I was happy with how I was playing and how we were playing. It showed me that in football it can go from being great to the next game something like that happening and you're the world's worst. What happened on that day I handballed it but I did not even know what had happened. It was an instinct reaction and you cannot control those things. A split-second thing like that, and all that controversy follows that is what can happen in football, and that is what makes it a great game. It was a big experience. That is not what you want but it is about learning."
The process has been painful. Oxlade-Chamberlain was horrified to lose a match 6-0. "You feel completely embarrassed," he said. Losing by half that last Sunday at Goodison Park was not much better. "After the Everton game, everyone was gutted," he says. "Everyone was completely fired up and we knew what we needed to do. To come away with a 3-0 defeat, it is hard to put your finger on what went wrong. The reactions from the games and the bad results we have picked up, I can only say what I have seen and say how much that affected everyone.
"That shows me everyone is committed. The initial reaction was disappointment but looking forward to the weekend you have to put that to the back of your mind as quick as you can and focus on what is still to play for, and we still have a lot to play for."
Arsenal are, he says, "desperate" for a trophy. An FA Cup semi-final against Wigan represents a sizable carrot on Saturday. "Winning a trophy is massive. We've all come together as a fairly new squad and for the time we've been together we've been building ourselves up to a moment like this. Whether it's the league, Champions League, FA Cup or League Cup. When people say it's been weighing on the club heavily, the players are fully aware of that and we want to make that right. We are desperate to win this trophy."
Oxlade-Chamberlain feels that if they can end the relentless totting up of years since Arsenal last hoisted silverware, it could break the dam. "Once you do get that experience of winning the first one you automatically build confidence that you can go on and do that again and again and again.
"I always hear commentators talking about squads that have been around and that have won things. They always mention the experience of winning and knowing what it takes to win. That is definitely something that will help this team to go on and push forward and be successful in the future. It is just getting to that first one. It is a lot easier said than done. It is our responsibility to take that opportunity."
Although Arsène Wenger pinpointed the sudden loss of defensive stability as Arsenal's major problem of late, the predictable and pedestrian nature of an attacking game hit by key injuries has been equally problematic. They have badly missed the forward runs of Theo Walcott and Aaron Ramsey, whose return to fitness could be critical to their gameplan. Oxlade-Chamberlain is another source of pace, but Wenger has played him in a deeper, more-central role recently. In need of an injection of speed and enthusiasm, Oxlade-Chamberlain and the returning Ramsey have the potential to kickstart a more positive approach.
Not that Oxlade-Chamberlain will be taking anything for granted. He watched Wigan defeat Manchester City on television, and although that result was greeted with great relief around the Emirates, it felt like a warning bell to Arsenal's No15. Aren't Arsenal favourites
"Not at all," he says. "I watched Wigan play City and, as you do, you expected City to win but not for one moment could you tell Wigan weren't a Premier League team. They have great players, they play some really good stuff and they compete. We don't think we're massive favourites and they're underdogs. If they can beat City, on their day they can beat us and it is our responsibility to make sure that does not happen by approaching the game in the right manner."
Oxlade-Chamberlain will give his all to ensure the joke will not be on Arsenal come Saturday evening.
The 20-year-old winger recognises that 'winning the first one is the hard part' as he takes on Wigan in the FA Cup semi-final
If humour is a fine antidote to pressure, then Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain must be a handy person to have around the Arsenal dressing room at a time when the heat is whacked up. The 20-year-old demonstrates a fine knack for breaking the tension when conversation turns, slightly awkwardly, to his recollections of a recent afternoon of turmoil.
There is a brief pause as he considers his account of that 6-0 humiliation at Chelsea, and his role in the focal point when he stretched to tip away Eden Hazard's shot with a hand, only for the hullabaloo to turn farcical as the referee Andre Marriner sent off Kieran Gibbs in a case of mistaken identity. "It was a nightmare day," he begins, his expression bashful. "People have asked if I am a midfielder or a winger, but I showed maybe I can play in goal." The gag is delivered with expert timing and a deadpan expression.
Coping mechanisms are required for any young player who bears considerable hopes for club and country. At the moment a place in the FA Cup final, a top-four Premier League finish, and a berth in England's World Cup party are at stake. Pressure is unavoidable, so all methods for easing the load are welcome.
Fortunately for Oxlade-Chamberlain, he appears to be well stocked in that department. As well as his line in dry humour, and a ready supply of common sense, his father, Mark, a former England international, is always there for advice. The mix of a warm personality and cool head have helped Oxlade-Chamberlain to deal with the turbulent moments that have afflicted Arsenal in recent weeks. His confidence does not seem dented. His keen sense of determination appears undimmed.
The broader reflections of the Chelsea debacle show how he is trying to absorb lessons from whatever this season throws at him. "The whole situation was crazy," he says. "Prior to that I was happy with how I was playing and how we were playing. It showed me that in football it can go from being great to the next game something like that happening and you're the world's worst. What happened on that day I handballed it but I did not even know what had happened. It was an instinct reaction and you cannot control those things. A split-second thing like that, and all that controversy follows that is what can happen in football, and that is what makes it a great game. It was a big experience. That is not what you want but it is about learning."
The process has been painful. Oxlade-Chamberlain was horrified to lose a match 6-0. "You feel completely embarrassed," he said. Losing by half that last Sunday at Goodison Park was not much better. "After the Everton game, everyone was gutted," he says. "Everyone was completely fired up and we knew what we needed to do. To come away with a 3-0 defeat, it is hard to put your finger on what went wrong. The reactions from the games and the bad results we have picked up, I can only say what I have seen and say how much that affected everyone.
"That shows me everyone is committed. The initial reaction was disappointment but looking forward to the weekend you have to put that to the back of your mind as quick as you can and focus on what is still to play for, and we still have a lot to play for."
Arsenal are, he says, "desperate" for a trophy. An FA Cup semi-final against Wigan represents a sizable carrot on Saturday. "Winning a trophy is massive. We've all come together as a fairly new squad and for the time we've been together we've been building ourselves up to a moment like this. Whether it's the league, Champions League, FA Cup or League Cup. When people say it's been weighing on the club heavily, the players are fully aware of that and we want to make that right. We are desperate to win this trophy."
Oxlade-Chamberlain feels that if they can end the relentless totting up of years since Arsenal last hoisted silverware, it could break the dam. "Once you do get that experience of winning the first one you automatically build confidence that you can go on and do that again and again and again.
"I always hear commentators talking about squads that have been around and that have won things. They always mention the experience of winning and knowing what it takes to win. That is definitely something that will help this team to go on and push forward and be successful in the future. It is just getting to that first one. It is a lot easier said than done. It is our responsibility to take that opportunity."
Although Arsène Wenger pinpointed the sudden loss of defensive stability as Arsenal's major problem of late, the predictable and pedestrian nature of an attacking game hit by key injuries has been equally problematic. They have badly missed the forward runs of Theo Walcott and Aaron Ramsey, whose return to fitness could be critical to their gameplan. Oxlade-Chamberlain is another source of pace, but Wenger has played him in a deeper, more-central role recently. In need of an injection of speed and enthusiasm, Oxlade-Chamberlain and the returning Ramsey have the potential to kickstart a more positive approach.
Not that Oxlade-Chamberlain will be taking anything for granted. He watched Wigan defeat Manchester City on television, and although that result was greeted with great relief around the Emirates, it felt like a warning bell to Arsenal's No15. Aren't Arsenal favourites
"Not at all," he says. "I watched Wigan play City and, as you do, you expected City to win but not for one moment could you tell Wigan weren't a Premier League team. They have great players, they play some really good stuff and they compete. We don't think we're massive favourites and they're underdogs. If they can beat City, on their day they can beat us and it is our responsibility to make sure that does not happen by approaching the game in the right manner."
Oxlade-Chamberlain will give his all to ensure the joke will not be on Arsenal come Saturday evening.
