The boy has burst onto the scene in explosive fashion since making his first league start for Arsenal against Manchester United last month.
So much so, in fact, that many Arsenal fans booed Arsene Wenger's decision to take him off.
Now I can understand the frustrations of my fellow Gooners when Wenger made that decision. It made me feel frustrated too.
What makes me laugh about the situation now is that a lot of these same Arsenal fans ridiculed the decision to actually sign Alex in the first place and now they believe he is the new Pele!
I won't lie, when we paid £12m for Oxlade-Chamberlain last summer I was a little concerned, but not angry, that we spent that much on such a young player.
But looking round various websites at the time of his signing you would have thought that Arsene Wenger had farted loudly in a lift full of people the way some reacted. They were disgusted we had signed another baby.
Yet, just six months later, these same people are hailing the Ox as the messiah of Arsenal Football Club. Our saviour.
Please, don't get me wrong, I love the fact that Alex is proving the 'doubters' wrong, but wouldn't it be refreshing if some of them held their hands up and admitted it too?
Of course I can understand why Gooners were angry because, at the time, we were set to lose Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri.
But maybe we shouldn't be quicker than Beth Ditto chasing an ice-cream van to judge new signings, no matter what the age.
In the past we (and I include myself) have all reacted badly to a new signing before the person gets a chance to prove himself. Especially to someone who isn't a superstar purchase.
Maybe the Ox proves that we need to hold our tongues a little because it can bite you on the bum in the future.
Wenger doesn't always get it right. Many of his past signings are tribute to that fact.
But I hope that some people have learnt to give some players time to prove themselves. Oxlade-Chamberlain is proof of that.
Follow me on Twitter @_Wrighty7
Keep It Goonerish......
35 comments:
To a point, I agree with you. What you seem to be ignoring is the fact that AW was berated for the signing because we all knew that we needed experienced players, not youth.
Fortunately, the Ox has proven to be a man in a boys frame. Pace, power, trickery have made him an instant favourite.
But what if he hadn't settled immediately? Then we're relying on AA23 to get his arse into gear ( highly unlikely).
Similar situation with Eisfeld. We needed his type of player, but we've got an unproven 19 yr old. Are you happy with that signing. Many AKB fans said the summer transfers showed a change of policy, and were NOT panic buys. Then he reverts to type.
There seems to be no coherent policy, and that is why many are frustrated
gal_boy - what a load of b*llocks. So essentially what you're saying is AW can do no right.
He signs a young player - slam him for taking a risk.
Young player actually turns out to be mature, talented and powerful - slam him because 'what if he turned out rubbish'.
Load of crock. AW and his team recognised Ox's talent, they signed him up for what's looking more and more like a bargain price, so give them the bloody credit.
While Wenger got it right with Ox he has proved himself incompetent in the transfer market the past few seasons.
Galboy What a W****r you are all this what if crap if you hate wenger that much at least have the guts to say or maybe what if we get into the top 3 let alone 4th this season you 10 watt muppet.
Some of these so called supporters sit behind me. They know nothing about football but think they're top international coaches. When we're 7-1 up they complain that we conceded one. They scream "shoot" every time one of our players crosses the half way line and then berate AW every time some one shoots and misses. It's quite pathetic. They're just the sort of bandwagon glory hunters that I despised Man U and Chelsea for having. They're not happy, we don't need them - simple solution that begins with F.
Whats also weird are the fans are angry at Arsene for playing youth and not signing experience - yet when he brings on experience for youth they destroy him. In a world where nothing is good enough.
@AC 21:53
Are you kidding me? Wenger is an absolute genius when he does actually dip into the transfer market. The problem is he doesn't do it enough.
Other managers have been relegated on the budget he has worked on. Who knew anything about Vermaelen, Koscielny and Sagna when they signed. Each proving to be quality players. He scouting system brought in Szcesny. He bought the ox, gervinho, arteta.
Oh maybe you're in the same boat as Smudge Smith critising Wenger for not signing Gary Cahill. He helped bolton to one of the worst goals conceded totals this season and where did he disappear to for the united equaliser yesterday.
Wenger deserves criticism for not spending, not how he spends it.
What's the point of this right now?
I was saying that EXACT same thing to a fellow 'fan' the other day, he seemed to forget that he was one of those that berated Wenger for buying him...All you hear now is 'The Ox' this The Ox that!!?! The media are the same too! They got on Wengers case for buying him, now they are calling for him to play for England!!?! Which i hope he DOESN'T...look what happened to Walcott when they took him to the World Cup way too early...i still think that whole experience jinxed him!!
some people....being yourself
Oh the extreme comments
It's like there's no middle ground!!!
He was berated for spending 12m on an 18 year old who wouldn't be ready when we needed proven quality desperately- not for the fact he signed chamberlain. And hasn't that lack of quality shown?
No one was moaning at the 7-1. Every gunner absolutely loved every minute of it- and rightly so. I couldn't care less of they had 5 men on the pitch- it was a great achievement. Yet the lack of playing quality, lack of tactical quality and stubbornness of wengers teams and the man himself has shone through since at least February last year. If you were to draw a graph of our progress since 2007- when wenger had money to spend again (check accounts if you like) its been a regression
Yet to an extent, when he has spent big it's failed- wiltord, arguably arshavin and Reyes (despite having supreme talent)- maybe explaining his reluctance at times. Yet he obviously pulls incredible buys out of the hat too (fewer and fewer recently)
Reinforcements were needed in january at full back and midfield- they weren't added. We had the whole summer to improve our squad- and lots of money, instead it takes an 8-2 loss to shock him into papering over the cracks and not as well as should have been done earlier in the summer
The rest of Europe is in meltdown but we are not he says- I agree. By that logic we should have plenty to spend and an even stronger bargaining position
People who say that winning trophies and champions league isn't a right- we pay the highest ticket prices in Europe, and make the biggest profit, so it should be considering the resources available to us. We have a wage bill of nearly double that of spurs so don't tell me wages ate a problem. We have a bunch of mediocre players in middle ground on silly wages.. That isn't good enough. Champions league keeps the club running. No champions league means no profit, as our property Returns finish this year, as well as dwindling attendance and a loss of 40m or so a year. Due to our mammoth wage bill- that means well be forced to sell our best players- and unlike the last 4 years when ardent should have spent to keep us challenging, when we had the money, we will not have the money any longer. As wenger admits himself- that is a realistic problem.
You tell me what part of that is good management
I love the man, but there is no point in watching him slowly tearing down a skyscraper which he took to new levels
It hurts to see us slipping behind the pack and urgent action by wenger and the board- and if not then by new board or management of necessary- is needed
The fact.is that wenger signed more players this season 11 - than any other season. for the.price.of nasri he brouvht in gervinho chamberlain and campbell. i would say that is excellent business. the problem was that he never replaced cesc and continued with a formation that was designed for cesc and also a pacy back 4. well with a back 4 including djourou mertesacker and santos we never really had that pace and in arron ramsey we do not have the cesc replacement. i see no reason why we cannot play 442 at least until jack is back. i think theo and the ox on the flanks with rvp and either gervinho arshavin henry chamakh or park as his partner. any 2 of song coquelin arteta ramsey rosicky diaby benayoun wilshire will be plenty for the 2 midfield slots and if walcott or the ox meed a rest we could use yossi or rosicky or arshavin out wide
sort the background out please :3
I was gonna have my say but Kdua summed up my view perfectly. Great comment mate.
I must commend you for including yourself. Some other writers would have gone pointing accusing fingers at others. Wenger may mistake from time to time (who doesn't) but you cannot question is
commitment,tenacity,expretise, and technical competence. He did not get to this position overnight. When the time comes we will all give him kudos for the great work at Arsenal. Here are just instances of his wisdom; 1.When he stated that Arsenal could go a whole season without losing a game, the critics said that it was not possible in the modern era. The rest is history. When he stated that RVP is one of the most technically gifted player he has ever seen and ranks among the best in the world and that barring injury he will show his class. Well, we are all witness to RVP's form. For folks that say there is no coherent strategy, they need to st down and analyse the traditions, culture, history, and future strategy of the club. Time will show that Arsene still knows,
"AC said...
While Wenger got it right with Ox he has proved himself incompetent in the transfer market the past few seasons.
6 February 2012 21:53"
that's not fair. i'm never concern when AW buys. my problem is when he refuses to use some money.
incompeten? tv4, koscielny, ox, arteta lately... very good players on shoestring budget. then you have per and santos...
Galboy!! You should be called GAYBOY, you.fucking battyman. What kind of shit are you talking? Thats like me saying im going to fuck your mum and cum on your sisters tits, you cunting muppet. Go suck your boyfriend you green cunt and ask yourself what if I (galboy) wasn't a queer?
I agree with you
i think Eisfeld is going to be a good signing also
You think eisfield is going to be a good signing. Pull your head out wengers arse and tell me what your basing that on. The fact he hasnt played for Dortmund 1st team or the fact he was out INJURED all last season. Most of the people on here need to wake up and realise for the last 4 years the reason we crumble every Feb/March is because of Wengers tactics and continued use of Average players, Oh and the Physio staff need replacing as they obviously dont do there jobs properly. Ive never known a club have so many 'setbacks'
Wow Arsen Wenger hails RVP and says He is. Special talent.
Fuck me I didn't know this.
Remember when He lauded the Clown Almunia and said He was one of the best keepers around?
Remember the poor signings like Kaba Diawara, and the German kid Bischoff who we didn't even see play.
He then goes and let's a Manc cunt legend train at our Club, in fact He let's anyone train at our Club, it's a fucking free for all. If we had any secret tactics in training then this is blown out the water when the Manc tossed is calling his Pals with the good news.
He then BUYS a fucking Manc legend in Silvestre. And anyone who signs Squillaci to play in the Prem is frankly dumb.
Wenger has let his crown slip by letting the Pisshead and Moaninhio slay him and now WE are paying the price.
We had our chance to be the biggest Club in the World and blew it.
What happened to the clever signings like Kanu and Suker?
The signings like Overmars and Henry. The Kids like Anelka and Cesc?
We are now getting excited about good players like The Ox and Willshere who will become great players by the way.
The rot set in after the Invincibles were cheated at the Old Toilet and we as a Club became even more hated than ever.
No matter how many titles the medias beloved Northerners win they will NEVER go unbeaten. Being French and at a Club which is an institution that is hated by all other teams fans, Wenger HAS been a genius.
That HAS now finished and WE must move on or face the concequences.
Pointless bit of trosh!!! next time wait until you have something to say...
besides yes wenger should do this buy OX(youngsters) and add balance with older experienced players..."took a thunmping for him to do it" everyone was right to raise their eyebrows, you muppet.
If he had done what was needed in the first place we would never have been humiliated by Manure.
Know what youre talking about before you open youre CAKE HOLE!!!
The sad thing about all this is the constant in-fighting going on between gooners! The AKB's and the Arsenal supporters turning on each other is helping nobody. Whatever way you look at it we have 2 camps now and its not healthy. We dont have to agree with each other on everything about the club and for sure not about the manager. Every supporter has a right to an opinion. Its always been that way at Arsenal but this last few years the AKB side has really kicked in so badly attacking those that see a different side. Neither are wrong, they are just opinions. Nobody should be above that, not even wenger. He has done great knows more than all of us, but he is not superman, he is a manager and he will go onto new things at some point the same as other good managers in the past...yes there was an arsenal before wenger! He has taken us to a new level and am sure given the resources can do more yet, but please lets stop this almost nazi attitude of if you dont agree you will be attacked and disposed of! its crazy!
Support the CLUB first and foremost, support the manager and player next and for gods sake support each other! There are enough out there who hate us without everyone turning on each other too!
The only thing i can critesice Wenger for when it comes to The Ox is not playing him earlier! And i didn't critesice him for buying him btw. But The Ox is our best winger already, and that a little critisism towards the rest of the wingers in the squad. But i think Gervinho wil be good, he still raw, same with Walcott.. Arshavin should go
and actually Chamberlain faded in the games after the MU game and was average at best. He then scored two goals against a horrendous Blackburn team. Now the same fans who didn't want to have him in the first place say that he is better than Hazard.
Scoring two goals in the PL doesn't mean anything and the boy obviously still has to prove himself.
But the hypocritical doom and gloom brigade can't see this. The Ox is already the new messiah. For now at least. When he fails to perform for a few games he will again be treated as trash, "not good enough for Arsenal" and requested to be sold.
@Spudders comment.
You are just the kind of person that should be culled. There is no place on this planet for people that spout homophobic crap and abuse people for no real reason.
There's a massive problem with humanity. If the world was to end this year there is no doubt we deserve it.
If it doesn't happen then I still think there should be a mass culling of the thick as shit and criminals so the human race can move on
Some of you so called arsenal fans are a mugs I bet you left before the Blackburn game had even finished. Take a look at yourselfs and stop bitching about the team and start showing your support.
Yes it's not great when we lose, the season ticket price to too high and we should of bought players in the transfer market but for fuck sake stop crying about. We have a lot of class players there and some class youngsters we have been really unlucky this season.
If you disagree so be it just support your team
Reg
Too many Arsenal fans love a good moan. Don't see the point myself. Not gonna change much is it, really? And for those who slag off Wenger after everything he's done (check out "Arsenal: The Making of a Modern Superclub" by Alex Fynn for a great insight), you should be ashamed! Support is about following your team through thick and thin. So, to all the naysayers, grow a set of balls and get behind the team.
IT'S THE YEAR OF THE OX
JUST ASK THE CHINESE PEOPLE ABOUT THEIR CALENDAR
everyone deserves an opinion, but i have been going to games for a long time and i am sick of idiots who know sweet fuck all shouting their mouths off. never was like this at the beautiful highbury. pretty shore since we upped the ticket prices and moved ground it has attracted allot of middle class idiots that should piss off back to their squash courts. we have a fine team and manger, the premiership is a really strong league and we have only the sixth highest wages in it. so this year we are where we should be. around 6th. previous season we have over achieved. and now these idiots in the ground think we are real mardrid, man utd, ac milian, or barca. we are not. the strategy of buying young and developing it is a great one. and our only one for sustained success. pains me to see spuds ahead of us but let them have their day in the sun, they have no structure and no stadium to sustain it. rednapp is like mourinho, manages for his own sake not for the club. when he bale and modric leaves which is inevitable they will be back where they belong, and if arsene leaves this summer he is still buying youth for the future of our club. that is pure class.
At the time AOC was signed we were about to lose Nasri on top of Cesc and there were no signs of top players coming in.There may not have been if we had not lost 8-2 to United.That is why Wenger was critised-priorities.
AOC is a terrific young player.I'd take him over Walcott all day and all night.
I love Wrighty’s posts. He’s a supporter not a fan (antic) which means he poses an issue about which he's passionate, but about which he has humour, perspective and tolerance, unlike that homophobic dickhead, who should be purged from this blog),
I grew up on the Canonbury --New North Road. My sister went to Highbury Hill High School or Girls, I went to Holloway, rather than William Ellis (in Camden) because I wanted to stay in the borough and play football with me mates. I played for Islington boys and London’s school boys, played with Charlie George (he was three- four years older than me, and a god to lots of us (even though he could be a major one jerk to) and David Donaldson (for those who have memories, you can guess my age. I played twice at Highbury—as a player for Islington schoolboys, and once or the I also represented the British University Football team. I could have signed on for a few teams but never did. I now live on the other side of the Atlantic now, and follow the Gunners my every waking hour, and sometimes in my sleep. When they lose, it can take me to days to recover; when they win, and they win well, it makes my week. I have worked and lived on four continents, and have followed them at the most ridiculous times of the day. I sometimes get up at 7.00 in the morning of Saturdays and Sundays to watch games. As they say in Spanish, Arsenal está en mi sangre.
After the Man U game, I was apoplectic, writing to my kids and my nephew, of all people, stupidly saying that Wenger should go. It was upon reflection and especially after seeing Wrighty’s post, I realized what impatient dickhead I was. Wenger’s not God; of course he’s fallible, sometimes about players and sometimes in highly intense moments of the games. However, but for this or that multiple injury, but for this or that chance, but for an off day, and we could have tied or won games. Blaming Wenger for Arshavin for what were multiple errors done in a nano second is unfair-- yes, he has played poorly— but that’s how it is.
It is no accident that over the last number of years, the teams that have finished in front of us, have either had Sugar Daddies (Mansour City and Cheslki) or leveraged debts (ManU) to buy players and reproduce themselves. Barcelona and Real Madrid took out a quarter billion Euro loan between them when they have historic unemployment levels in Spain. That model works up to a point; our model is not working to the extent that people expect and were spoiled by Invincibles, but it is different, and if it has not achieved silver, which will come, it has achieved stability. When did Juventus last win anything, look how fragile Bayern Munich seem? One could go on. Only so many teams actually do win; it can only be bandwanggoners who believe that it always has to happen, and get mad because they pays their ticket, bought their beer and they didn’t always win.
Wrighty gives me perspective on the team I love and calms me down down. His short, clear posts are for discussion, not for vitriol, and we have to thank him for it, without seeing the glass an eighth full. If you know your history, you know it is fuller than the instant gratification of always winning. And, yes, O-C looks great, but let’s not big him up too early; and no, he shouldn’t go to the Euros.
I love Wrighty’s posts. He’s a supporter not a fan (antic) which means he poses an issue about which he's passionate, but about which he has humour, perspective and tolerance, unlike that homophobic dickhead, who should be purged from this blog),
I grew up on the Canonbury --New North Road. My sister went to Highbury Hill High School or Girls, I went to Holloway, rather than William Ellis (in Camden) because I wanted to stay in the borough and play football with me mates. I played for Islington boys and London’s school boys, played with Charlie George (he was three- four years older than me, and a god to lots of us (even though he could be a major one jerk to) and David Donaldson (for those who have memories, you can guess my age. I played twice at Highbury—as a player for Islington schoolboys, and once or the I also represented the British University Football team. I could have signed on for a few teams but never did. I now live on the other side of the Atlantic now, and follow the Gunners my every waking hour, and sometimes in my sleep. When they lose, it can take me to days to recover; when they win, and they win well, it makes my week. I have worked and lived on four continents, and have followed them at the most ridiculous times of the day. I sometimes get up at 7.00 in the morning of Saturdays and Sundays to watch games. As they say in Spanish, Arsenal está en mi sangre.
After the Man U game, I was apoplectic, writing to my kids and my nephew, of all people, stupidly saying that Wenger should go. It was upon reflection and especially after seeing Wrighty’s post, I realized what impatient dickhead I was. Wenger’s not God; of course he’s fallible, sometimes about players and sometimes in highly intense moments of the games. However, but for this or that multiple injury, but for this or that chance, but for an off day, and we could have tied or won games. Blaming Wenger for Arshavin for what were multiple errors done in a nano second is unfair-- yes, he has played poorly— but that’s how it is.
It is no accident that over the last number of years, the teams that have finished in front of us, have either had Sugar Daddies (Mansour City and Cheslki) or leveraged debts (ManU) to buy players and reproduce themselves. Barcelona and Real Madrid took out a quarter billion Euro loan between them when they have historic unemployment levels in Spain. That model works up to a point; our model is not working to the extent that people expect and were spoiled by Invincibles, but it is different, and if it has not achieved silver, which will come, it has achieved stability. When did Juventus last win anything, look how fragile Bayern Munich seem? One could go on. Only so many teams actually do win; it can only be bandwanggoners who believe that it always has to happen, and get mad because they pays their ticket, bought their beer and they didn’t always win.
Wrighty gives me perspective on the team I love and calms me down down. His short, clear posts are for discussion, not for vitriol, and we have to thank him for it, without seeing the glass an eighth full. If you know your history, you know it is fuller than the instant gratification of always winning. And, yes, O-C looks great, but let’s not big him up too early; and no, he shouldn’t go to the Euros.
@paulo & @anonymous
Who said I was homophobic, did I say I hate homosexuals? Did I state that i'm scared of homos? I just called galboy a battyboy and a queer. Now, I don't know his sexual persuasion as I've never met the cunt, he could very well be a queer. But I never said anything along the lines of kill him or kill queers, unlike pussyclaart anonymous who thinks it acceptable to "cull" a people who he deems less intelligent by his standards, its this elitest attitude that is the baine of this country you pompous, foxhunting cunt. I bet your the type of person who evades taxes and doesn't think himself a "criminal". Go cull yourself you fucking tart. To the rest of you cunts who diss me for calling someone a name and jumped on my back for it fuck you, its a sorry state of affairs when its deemed acceptable to mass murder a people in a comment and no one says a bean. SMH
This article assumes that if Wenger had spent the same amount of money on a more experienced player, that player would not have been a success. A seasoned pro may well have turned our fortunes around and we may be far higher up the table. It's not exactly as if AOC has saved our season is it, e's only played a game or two literally.
p
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