Alex Oxlade- Chamberlain hurtles through the summer like a rubber ball.
There is no suggestion of conserving energy, no wobble, no pause to consider the potential for a difficult second season with Arsenal. The achievements of the last 12 months a Barclays Premier League debut, a Champions League debut, an England cap and making the Euro 2012 squad might be hard to eclipse but the teenager will give it a go.
“The first aim is to make sure I m fully fit for the start of the season, to get the best chance to get in the team,” said Oxlade-Chamberlain, who played 45 minutes against a Malaysia XI in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, his first football since Euro 2012. “I know it won t be easy. The new signings are really good, while we have talent coming through. I’ll always put my own style on things, which is taking people on and trying to be an exciting player to watch.”
Oxlade-Chamberlain is only 18 but bursting with self-belief some may say a little too much. He was reprimanded by Roy Hodgson for showboating in an England training session but a cocksure attitude can help the transition into life among elite footballers. As can an upbringing in a football family. His father Mark was an England international and uncle Neville a professional footballer.
“You have to have that confidence,” adds Oxlade-Chamberlain. “If you don t believe in yourself, noone else will. But you also have to keep your feet on the ground. Should he not, he will have Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger on his case. There are always lots of errors he speaks to me about,” he said.
“I have to be more assertive defensively to be a better player. I hold my hands up for that. As Wenger tries to teach defensive awareness without damaging an attacking spirit, his father demands physical dedication. Get fit, just get fit, he s always going on about getting fit,” said Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Quality comes with game time and training but if you re not fit it leaves you behind. Arsenal start their campaign against Sunderland but there also lurks a fixture with added sparkle for a player who began his career at Southampton. “Fourth game in, isn’t it?” said Oxlade-Chamberlain. “I‘m delighted Southampton are back in the Premier League, which is where they belong. I can’t wait.”
He is expected to be in Hodgson’s squad for another clash with Italy, this time a friendly in Switzerland, and the chance to lessen the pain of that shootout defeat in Kiev.
“For me, it was just horrible,” said Oxlade-Chamberlain, who was an unused substitute, having featured in three group games. “But I learned a lot, watching our boys but also watching Andrea Pirlo. Maybe people don’t think I’m a midfielder, some think I am a winger, but to see quality like that was something. I will learn from that and how to defend against someone like him. The whole experience was topdrawer.
“I didn’t expect to go in the first place, to be honest. I’d booked holidays. Starting my first game at Wembley was a big step but the France call-up was amazing. It doesn’t get any better than that.”
Well, it might. Wenger and Hodgson will be among those hoping it does. [email protected] – Daily Mail