The Oxlade-Chamberlain / Joel Campbell thread

Segway

Oxlade-Chamberlain joined Arsenal in 2011 from Southampton following his breakthrough season where he helped Southampton to promotion from League One with 9 league goals to his name and a place on the League One Team of the Year. As an 18-year old he quickly impressed all of us in his debut season where you might remember his Champions League debut goal vs. Olympiacos and a storming performance against AC Milan at the Emirates where we won 3-0. You might also remember a certain dutchman's reaction to the substitution of Oxlade-Chamberlain in a league game vs. United where he was a constant threat and also made the assist for our only goal in the game.

Unfortunately his debut season remains his most exciting season for us so far as the following seasons have been so-so (horror display in the 0-6 loss to Chelsea springs to mind) and especially the last two seasons have been wrecked by injuries but there have been glimpses of serious quality like this:

Even with the last two seasons in mind the majority of Arsenal fans still believe that Chamberlain will become a key player for us in the future. People on even here even insisted that he was better than Sterling. He has fantastic pace, can dribble and his shooting technique is definitely up there with the best at the club. On the other hand he is terribly inconsistent and his mistakes have already cost us a number of goals this season (3 if I remember correctly) and he can sometimes play like Eboue where he just runs the ball into no-mans land.

Bear in mind that he is still only 22 but it's hard not to be worried with his lack of development since coming to the club in 2011. This season is supposed to be his breakthrough because he no longer has fitness issues but so far he's been among one of our worst players.

So what do you guys think?

Were we too quick to hype his talent and will he never be anything more than an impact player of the bench (a Sanogo-esque influx of chaos)?
Or do you think that he still has what it takes to iron out the flaws in his game and become a household name in the starting eleven?
What is going on with him? Surely a player of his talent should do more?

Klaus

He's a developing player who has been set back heavily by injuries in the last few seasons, and right now he's playing for a team that is struggling to get the basic concept of footbal right. I think that's all there is to it. Can't expect anything of guys like Chamberlain when players who are twice as good fail to perform.

The important thing for him this season was always to get 40 games or so under his belt without any more setbacks. The rest will come.

lorddulaarsenal

Optimistic for him. Has loads of talent although he's a player who needs guidance more than others

evoh

Flattered by his nationality, if he was Spanish he would've a bang average prospect. His first touch is disgusting and where is that consistent threat from his play?

Ray

He would be better coming in from the left, on the right he doesn't get involved in the game.

Qwiss

He's still just 22. He's raw and his decision making is iffy but he's not terrible by any means. Just needs to keep plugging away at it and if he can stay fit he'll be a quality player in another 2-3 years.

GaelForce

Ray wrote:
He would be better coming in from the left, on the right he doesn't get involved in the game.

I still think Ox on the left, and Sanchez on the right would be much better for both players.

Kel Varnsen

He can run and shoot. That's about it. His technical ability and vision is really poor for what is supposed to be a top talent. He'll never have a big future here unless he, at least, can sort out his mediocre close control.

Clrnc

Kel Varnsen wrote:
He can run and shoot. That's about it. His technical ability and vision is really poor for what is supposed to be a top talent. He'll never have a big future here unless he, at least, can sort out his mediocre close control.

His close control is absolutely absurd. It's more of luck than anything most of the time. I lost count of how many heavy touches he had yesterday which resulted in losing the ball.

Meatwad

i honestly don't know what he's been working on his 4+ years here.

Captain

Mostly his fitness probably.

Chambo is a class prospect.

jones

Needs to ride the bench a little, his ball control is woeful. Looking at their first touch and their performances yesterday you would think Ox is the one who hasn't kicked a ball in about a year and Campbell is among the first names to be rotated into the starting XI. I have a lot of time for him but I really think Campbell deserves a shot over him at least at the moment.

Rex

Chambo will be a top player, and you can take that to the bank.

Gazza M

18 months behind where he should be, mostly due to injuries. it's a bit shit because the first team is hard to get into now. there was a window from 2011-2013 where it would've been good if he was healthy and getting regular minutes

Claudius

the real Oxlade-Chamberlain?
have we even seen the so-called real Oxlade-Chamberlain, this top attacking midfielder? i don't recall seeing him. i've seen one or two nice goals and lots of running on occasion. but i've never seen 5 games of the boy just running the show.
what you see is the real Oxlade-Chamberlain

Tam

Was going to the bank yesterday. Since I was there anyway I said "Rex told us Chambo will be a top player." They didn't have a fucking clue what I was talking about.

goon

Claudius wrote:
the real Oxlade-Chamberlain?
have we even seen the so-called real Oxlade-Chamberlain, this top attacking midfielder? i don't recall seeing him. i've seen one or two nice goals and lots of running on occasion. but i've never seen 5 games of the boy just running the show.
what you see is the real Oxlade-Chamberlain

He was running the show for longer than 5 games a couple of seasons ago. Was quite clearly one of our best players during the run in. Was tearing it up for England too. Then, as per, he got injured.

Folks on here are too reactive to form, both in terms of the team and individuals.

Claudius

"Tearing it up"!
"Running the show!"
This is why we are perpetually disappointed when our players don't pan out. We're out here plumping up their accomplishments. What exactly did Ox tear up other than a groin muscle last season?

goon

You said you've never seen 5 games where he's ran the show, I gave you an example of a period when he did.

Kel Varnsen

He's nowhere near the best talents in Europe. He's not even among the best talents in England.