Redknapp: Why I have changed my mind about Arsenal 23-year-old
By Harry Sykes
Jamie Redknapp has revealed that he has changed his mind about Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain following his success in a new position for Arsenal.
The high profile pundit was convinced that the England international might have to quit Emirates Stadium for the good of his career.
But Redknapp has had a change of heart after being taken by how well Oxlade-Chamberlain has adapted since being used in central midfield by manager Arsene Wenger.
“Earlier in the season I argued that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain might have to leave Arsenal to further his career,” wrote Redknapp in his weekly Mail column. “After watching his impressive display against Hull, I believe he could have a future at the Emirates in central midfield.
“Although he has played mostly as a winger, Oxlade-Chamberlain has all the attributes to thrive in the middle. Against Hull he ran the game, tackling and passing well and running with great energy.
“Oxlade-Chamberlain is a confidence player and he tends to retreat into his shell when fans get on his back for losing the ball. Performances like this will go a long way to silencing his critics.
“His challenge is to do it in the big games — and they do not come much bigger than Bayern Munich on Wednesday.”
Oxlade-Chamberlain joined Arsenal aged 17 in the summer of 2011 for a fee rising to £15million after making his name as a teenage star at Southampton.
His spell at the London giants has been marked by injuries, inconsistency and fleeting glimpses of exceptional potential.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has spent most of the last six years in a wide attacking midfield role, even though Wenger has often stated his best position could eventually be in central midfield.
The 24-times England international has been handed the opportunity in that position in recent weeks due to the unavailability of a number of senior players including Aaron Ramsey, Santi Cazorla, Granit Xhaka and Mohamed Elneny.
Oxlade-Chamberlain was widely Arsenal’s outstanding player in both the 3-0 defeat at Chelsea and Saturday’s 2-0 triumph against Hull, the 180th match of his Gunners career.
In 31 matches in all competitions this season, he has scored six goals and weighed in with seven assists, although three of those goals have come in the League Cup against lesser opposition.
In other Arsenal news, a report has named the three managers the club are now assessing to succeed Arsene Wenger.
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