Ox loving life at Arsenal

Arsenal winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has “loved every minute” of an unforgettable 2011 and wants to achieve even more next year.

Oxlade-Chamberlain, 18, joined Arsenal from Southampton in August for £12 million, although the fee could rise as high as £15 million with add-ons.

Oxlade-Chamberlain has since gone onto make his Premier League and Champions League debuts with the Gunners, having helped Saints achieve promotion back to the Championship. The winger has also established himself as a key component in the England Under-21 squad, and he is elated with his progress this year.

“It’s been exciting for me this year joining Arsenal,” he told Arsenal Player. “I’ve loved every minute of it so far and I wouldn’t change a thing.

“I enjoyed the end of last season with Southampton too so I can’t really complain about how this year has gone. I’m looking forward to 2012 and hopefully it can bring good things for this club and for me personally.”

Arsene Wenger has been conservative with the use of the teenager since his big-money move, handing him just six first-team appearances.

The 18-year-old’s only taste of Premier League action to date came as a substitute in the 8-2 mauling at Manchester United in August.

Earlier this week Wenger said he expected the teenager to play a larger role for the Gunners in 2012 and there are even suggestions he could yet make the England squad for the European Championship.

For now, though, Oxlade-Chamberlain is only focused on honing his skills and has lapped up his manager’s advice.

“The stuff he says to me, to the team, just makes so much sense,” he said. “It’s just little things like that you can always pick up stuff.

“The main thing he’s said to me is that I’ve got the ability to play at this level and it’s just how much I want it. That just sums it up for me really.

“I know I just have to keep working hard, get my head down and keep pushing to put pressure on him to select me. It’s encouraging to hear him say that to me because it’s always good advice.

“If it’s criticism it’s always constructive and I do go away and listen. My relationship with him since I’ve been here has been very good – the same with Pat Rice too. I’m still young and I’m learning.”

Credit: http://soccernet.espn.go.com

Tags: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arsenal

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