Introducing our newest Gunner – Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Arsenal have concluded the signing of promising mid-fielder/winger Alexander Oxlade-Chamberlain from Southampton for an initial fee of £7 million – rising to £12 million with addons. The signing of Chamberlain puts an end to a transfer that looked like it would happen in January but because Southampton threw their toys out the pram, extended into this summer.
Chamberlain has been a target for most of the big clubs in England with United and recently Liverpool trying the hardest to usurp Arsenal’s deal. However, the player’s father and former England international Mark Chamberlain felt all along that it was Arsenal under Arsene Wenger, that Alex would really develop into a star.
Alex comes form the same Southampton youth academy that Theo Walcott did and reminds allot of people of the current Arsenal and England international. However, the differences stop there. Alex is further along i his development is probably a more “aware” player than Theo was at this age. Additionally, where Theo was always a winger, Alex started as an attacking midfielder but because of his pace was placed on the outside to get full advantage of it.
Also, he is a better defender than Walcott is and is more physical having the ability to play as a box to box midfielder. His foot work is such that he can play the ball with both feet and is able to control the ball effectively while dribbling at speed.
He is also a player who is effective all around the box regardless of where he is. For such a young age he is also quite accurate with his shots. In addition to his offencive prowess he is a great defender. He does not hesitate to go after the ball and is excellent and turning his defencive ability into an offencive weapon. What I mean is he is apt at winning the ball back and turning it into an instant attack.
But the lad is not without his weaknesses. Let’s not forget he is 17 years old. The last 17 year old that got heaped with praise and selected for a WC before his time still hasn’t lived up to his hype. So expecting much, early on from this kid is a big ask. He is fine out on the wing but how he will handle the powerful midfielders of the EPL remains to be seen. Frankly, I could see a situation where he gets put out on loan back at Southampton for a full season of Championship play or goes to a lower tier EPL club for a loan spell.
Still he’s eager, ready and hungry.
What is the upside? Well, besides being the most promising player in his age group? Then it is his mentality. This kid has desire. When criticised for his size he went to work with additional training so that he could add some bulk and strength to his frame. He also doesn’t care where he plays. He accepted the move to winger as a challenge and built the requisite tools in to his repertoire to accommodate the new position.
Fan Reaction
So far the reaction has been positive. With a lot fans seeing the upside of having a talent like Chamberlain in the squad. His signing continues the current EPL trend of finding young, English talent and paying a premium for him. Of all the youth signed this summer, Chamberlain is head of the class.
Of course, this is not the signing many had hoped for. There will be a backlash that the glowing issue of a new Center Back is still out there. But there are rumours that this too could be completed this week. Also, there should be no confusing that this is some how tied to the Nasri transfer saga as some have suggested. Chamerblain has been a transfer target before the contract saga with Nasri erupted in February.
Additionally, fans will scratch their heads on the price paid for Chamberlain. Well, all I can say about that is – given what teams are paying for English talent this summer its still a deal.
Anyway – welcome Alex. We look forward to a nice long relationship with the club.
The pictures in the gallery below with the exception of the Southampton v Manchester United, are property of Arsenal.com. The self-portrait image comes courtesy of Young Guns Blog twitter feed.
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I thought we were going to get a preview of the new season…..
Well, latest signs all point to Barca getting their man for a song, while we make up for it by getting a bunch of petrolpounds for Nasri. And then Scott Dann appears to be our young, English CB…..at least until we can score Gary Cahill on a free…..Whatever we are, we are not Man City…….
And then there’s the small matter of the actual season, which appears as if it will start (for us at least) as I’ve yet to hear of riots in Newcastle…..
Fun times……
(And lots of work ahead this month….for the team which must try, somehow, to avoid elimination in the CL and the BPL, the only trophies, we’ve been told, which actually matter, and for management, about to be flush with cash, with perhaps a group of supporters demanding some spending and some “super-quality.” I’d also argue that some of our older, more established players–RVP, Arshavin, etc. and their agents, might be pulling some long nights trying to get off the sinking ship…..September cannot come soon enough……)
Scott Dann?!?! Are you f*in serious? Maybe I shouldn’t judge too hardly based on limited viewing, but said limited viewing was not encouraging
Sounds like Fabregas and Nasri may be going soon. My guess is Wenger will cover that by keeping Eboue.
Don’t worry, Tim and his merry bunch of nodders on 7am and the other Tim on Arseblog are upbeat and wetting themselves in anticipation of the seasons start. The worse it gets the bigger the denial.
The 7am site is a crackup, it’s the blog version of AFC, uber-controlled, leave your intelligence at the door – only those who want to lick Tim need enter & partake.
@Kiwi, I dunno Kiwi…..Personally I feel for Tim (7amkickoff). People who decide to start Arsenal blogs are just like us, except far MORE highly invested. The gyrations that Tim has gone through to try and keep upbeat are pretty spectacular….over the last little bit he’s reinvented himself as a “stat guy” and more recently he’s written a bunch of weird literary humor/sarcasm. Sometimes I read the comments (and, rarely, comment myself) because it’s a bunch of people trying to come to grips with what we’re seeing while still staying positive about the Arsenal (i.e., still rooting for the success of the team)…..just as I am.
In the end, that seems to be the big divide. It’s EASY to just say “Wenger Out” and hope for negative results to get us to that point sooner than later. See, for example Danny T’s blog or Le Grove. The main contributors on this site are firmly in that camp, but the shouting down of my writing (which I fancy as “more nuanced”) has been a little less lately, maybe because it’s been fairly negative. As much as I think the team is on the precipice of a major implosion (beginning in 48 hours, at Newcastle…..) I’m still hoping for the best. In other words, I see a big downward spiral in progress, but it gives me little joy.
The nature of the commentary is VERY different from the US sports with which I grew up (pre-interweb, of course), which makes it all the more interesting. There is so much speculation and so little to grab onto (Tim’s stats, for example, and stats in general, given the fluid nature of football, don’t do much for me—give me some clever Mazza narrative, any day, about Mexican tourists or ballerinas from Belarus)…… Additionally, given the lack of straightforward info (exacerbated by the relentless doubletalk/lies of our principle mouthpiece, AW) we have a very incomplete picture of what’s really going on. I try to look at what I see as “structural” issues but, as always, it’s just one perspective.
In the end I think we’re lucky here that DAG stepped up and gave the AA folks a soft place to land. You’ve got to say that his no-ban policy is an awfully high road to take in these troubled times, where everybody is looking for opportunities to vent and to blame. Maybe we should try our best to help him keep it going by being respectful of one another no matter how much pain we feel…..
@Kiwi,
“Sounds like Fabregas and Nasri may be going soon. My guess is Wenger will cover that by keeping Eboue.”
Thank you. Laughter is all we really have left.
@vibe4arsenal,
I didn’t laugh when I read that, since it’s what will actually happen.
@ChicagoGooner,
I can’t take it seriously anymore, so I enjoy the absurdity.
@Kiwi, I’m looking forward to the new season! Arsenal’s nothing if not entertaining… And it’ll be good to have football back:
-Fantasy football!
-Seeing new boy Gervinho (looked good in pre-season)
-Seeing how Dalglish revamped Pool do.. Particularly front 2 of Suarez/Carrol
-See how well Aguero fits in. Awesome player when on song
-Chelsea under Villas-Boas
And plus, Arsenal minus Fabregas/Nasri plus Scott Dann – I mean, we don’t expect much. We can’t possibly be disappointed.
Yup, bring on the new season
I still don’t understand why the riots in London started ….
Is it because of Wenger’s lack of transfer activities??? :-)
@Fred, Lol. On a serious note though, I hope they do settle down and quickly at that. These kinds of things happening set a bad precedent and make it more likely that they’ll happen in the future, usually worse. I have no doubt that the protests at lack of education funding last year played its role in all this.
@OziKenyan, Agree Ozi, and above, as well, about the team…..
Spurs-Everton (where it all began, with a police killing of an apparently unarmed man….) has been cancelled, but thoughts are that law-enforcement otherwise have things under control. In Birmingham, three young men were run down by a car in Birmingham in an incident with racial overtones. Overall, it doesn’t seem good, but football security may have evolved to a point where the police feel that matches are a “healthy” way for people to let off a little steam……
Or maybe, because of the internet, angry (Arsenal) fans are less likely to cause physical harm….
The deal is just about DONE.
So long Cescy… thank you for some great football and some sublime skillful moments… you were a good soldier and I wish you nothing but success at Barca.
Nasri next to ManCity…
The deal is just about DONE.
So long Cescy… thank you for some great football and some sublime skillful moments… you were a good soldier and I wish you nothing but success at Barca.
Nasri next to ManCity…
so here we are.
4 days before the season starts … and PLAYERS in the team, are saying its LIKELY both Cesc and Nasri will go.
We have brought in two kids for the future… Jenkinson and Chamberlain… and Gervinho.
Out will be Bendtner, Denilson, Clichy, Nasri & Cesc…
Our BEST player, and possibly our 2nd best gonna be sold, for a combined 50 PLUS MILLION GBP.
I know some people will just be thrilled if ” the club get their price for Cesc”… what that does for the team or fan, I have no fecking idea whatsoever, but I’m sure its good for the board and the profits.
We are probably a MID-TABLE team with Cesc & Nasri gone… and nobody of relative equality coming in… experienced, talented, proven players coming in…
And the defense?
I’m horrified at the prospect of this season right now.
Having said that… I know I have said a few times that the fans should take to the streets with pitchforks and torches! But I wasn’t serious!!!! The Emirates stands for all the RICHES and GREED that the alleged rioters claim to be rioting against… if any place should be a target, that stadium should be NUMERO UNO.
so here we are.
4 days before the season starts … and PLAYERS in the team, are saying its LIKELY both Cesc and Nasri will go.
We have brought in two kids for the future… Jenkinson and Chamberlain… and Gervinho.
Out will be Bendtner, Denilson, Clichy, Nasri & Cesc…
Our BEST player, and possibly our 2nd best gonna be sold, for a combined 50 PLUS MILLION GBP.
I know some people will just be thrilled if ” the club get their price for Cesc”… what that does for the team or fan, I have no fecking idea whatsoever, but I’m sure its good for the board and the profits.
We are probably a MID-TABLE team with Cesc & Nasri gone… and nobody of relative equality coming in… experienced, talented, proven players coming in…
And the defense?
I’m horrified at the prospect of this season right now.
Having said that… I know I have said a few times that the fans should take to the streets with pitchforks and torches! But I wasn’t serious!!!! The Emirates stands for all the RICHES and GREED that the alleged rioters claim to be rioting against… if any place should be a target, that stadium should be NUMERO UNO.
England-Netherlands friendly at Wembley cancelled because of riots in London…..
Wilshere, Gibbs and RVP hopefully will recover from their injuries all the sooner….
Really like the look of both Myiachi and Chamberlain. Both have great balance, are two-footed, and seem to have that inate intelligence in their games. Hopefully there will be no cringeful “oh dear” moments that used to happen with Theo, or Eastmond, when it was clear they were out of their depth.
Taken in a wider context, the signings show the worrying obsession Wenger has with kids, and because the whole make-up of the squad is wrong, we most likely won’t see the best of players like Oxo or Ryo. That irony seems to be lost on Arsene. Youngsters NEED experience to fulfill potential.
@Mazza,
I agree that both of the kids look good. They would look even better if we were all set to go and then we were adding these two as a sort of cherry on the top, x-factor kinda deal.
At the very least we wont have to play slow f&8ks on the wings from now on.
With these two, we now have six wingers for two positions: Arshavin, Gerv, Vela, Walcott, Ox, Miyaichi.
I say we get rid of Vela and Chamakh and let Gervinho be the backup for RvP when he goes down.
Now for a CB and DM.
@Fred, Agree completely, except I still keep my hopes alive for Vela (esp. as a creator off the main striker, i.e. a traditonal #10….) and I think Makh could be useful as a sub if we ever are able to stake ourselves to a 2+ goal lead (lol)…..but then again, I may be a more hopeful sort than some……
IMO, the biggest problem with young attackers are that they are in a mode of trying to prove themselves and they haven’t filled out physically. The lack of size and strength AND experience about when to pull out of challenges against the typical thuggish and cynical defenders in the Premiership (or worse the lower leagues in the domestic cups)……well, it’s a perfect storm for a LOT of rotation for us up front…..As we know, RVP and Theo ALWAYS gets hurt; Makh is a horse, but a leg injury probably should have us “putting him down,” Gervinho is VERY slight, but looks quick enough to scamper evasively away from trouble as does Ryo–IF they’re thinking self-preservation…… At least Vela (latest news is he might go on loan to Spain), our “tubby tourist”, presents a bit of a weight for defenders to bump into…..
OAC looks very strong and compact for a boy about to turn 18 (and very short–DAG, please edit his wiki page which lists him at 5′ 11″…. my guess is 5′ 8″ at most). As always, high hopes, low expectations, etc., etc……
Ryo Miyaichi has been granted his visa. Arsene Wenger was able to argue before the FA that Ryo is an exceptional talent.
As soon as the paper work is complete, Ryo will be eligble for first team activities.
Well the Cesc and Nasri transfer sagas may have taken an interesting turn. . . Wenger has included them both on the CL squads.
Surely if City and Barca want these players they want them for the CL too. They can’t risk spending the money on these guys only to have them cup tied?
May be more important for City as their loss to United shows they still lack something.
We’ll see.
The signing of Chamberlain has clearly confirmed what we have all known by mostly tried to sweep under the rug, Wenger and his cronies are FRICKING LUNATICS.
This ranks right up there with the Walcott signing but goes one step down the ladder as this youngster is the last person we need to sign at this moment.
Theo is a nice lad and I like him, but if you think of the 12M we spent on him 5 years ago, add his salary, cost of living increase and transfer fee inflation, that’s over 35M for 1 OK season.
“Take a deep breath Dad”, my son said to me this evening after calling to see if I was going to meet him at the Pub on Saturday to watch the game. He said that because of the unholy diatribe I released into his ears.
I am much calmer at this time but my ire rises every time I think about it. WTF.
@CaribkidYour son is right…..but if you’re not going to the pub, hopefully we’ll see you in the GDC…..
The timing of the A.O. Chamberlain signing could probably not be much worse, given that we appear to be playing brinksmanship games with Barca and Man City about players currently on our roster and (we pray) with other teams who have our transfer targets on theirs. And we all saw how those recent (debt ceiling) brinksmanship games have help things here in the States….
Sports fans live in the moment and they along with “the moment”, “tyrannical” as it might be, should be (at least somewhat) respected. As a PR organization Arsenal are abject failures…..For a while now ownership/management has shown that it doesn’t care about what’s happening NOW which is the ultimate show of disrespect for the supporters. The problem is that it heaps EXTREME pressure on the players who must try to win over a hostile fan base.
In a sport where referees have undue influence, I think lackluster and/or hostile home support removes the “home field advantage”, and (unfortunately) costs home teams points. I think we are easily handicapping our squad 5-10 points or more (over the season) by increasing the number of actual ticket paying fans who WANT to see Arsenal fail.
The upshot of what could easily be a fine indication of ambition for the future is that management/ownership are backing themselves into an ever tighter corner. Things NEED to happen now. We NEED to have signings by the end of the week and then we NEED 3 points away at the Toon (who despite their even worse couple of transfer windows will get behind their team and threaten to crucify any referee decisions against them)….. If we (somehow) pass that test, we will NEED to stake ourselves to a lead and/or keep a clean sheet at home to Udinese a WEEK FROM TODAY. Then we NEED 3 more versus ‘Pool, etc., etc., etc, And then, maybe, more signings (like for like) as Cesc and Nasri nurse their “injuries” out the door……
Arseblog this morning points out that signing AOC actually makes him more optimistic about other signings, and I would tend to agree. Still, the pressure is intense (and growing) and that would seem to weaken any bargaining position we would hope to create. Did United and Liverpool overpay for their early window British signings? Probably, but I fear that we’ll be paying much, much higher premiums for our dawdling. Hopefully Kronke isn’t freaking out about how much he’s losing in the stock markets. Maybe (knowing him) he’s shorted it all and glorying in everyone else’s wealth destruction….. Who knows, maybe the rioting in London will continue (and expand) and some of these early season matches will get postponed until after the window closes…..
I am happy for the newcoming 17 year old…
obviously its a big step up from Southampton to Arsenal.
I hope he’s a smashing success… and whats Theo has done, really has no bearing on him at all…
but, if this is the “big signing” Wenger talked about… its just INSANITY… and there could be ZERO debate why players like Cesc and Nasri would want out IMMEDIATELY…
As noted above, he will likely have very little effect on the first team this season… maybe he’ll play a part, and be decent… who knows… but this is NOT what we need to be spending that kind of money on, when we are always claiming to NOT have the money…
I like that he’s British… he’ll be happy to be at the club…
but I don’t know if he’s aware of what he’s getting into.
With Theo, Wilshire, Ramsey, and Chamberlain… it appears we are aiming for a run at the 2014 league title.
@stag133,
You left out Ryo, Silva and Galindo, they should all be eligible by then.
When Walcott was signed, it looked like a great acquisition given that the team already had a good foundation. Plus, back then it seemed that was a signing that could have helped Henry in making up his mind to stay because it depicted ambition. Now 5 years later, the team has no foundation and many things are in flux. So Chamberlain’s signing appears to be a luxury that Arsenal cannot afford currently, given that the team has not signed necessary players in the past due to a few million. Also, in the past many transfer windows went by without any of the necessary additions/cover yet when it comes to youth, Arsene hardly misses a beat.
Of course, this is the type of signing to be done if the team is getting ready to mount a challenge in 2014. Now, all Arsene has to do is plead with his players to believe in his vision, show patience for 3 more years and great things will happen.
Southampton truly must love Arsenal. They are probably looking to see which 17 year old then can sell to Arsenal in January because I am sure Arsene would oblige.
DAG,
BBC and Soccernet (both are authorities in sports reporting) report that the transfer fee is 12 million down NOW and 3 million in add ons.
So I believe it is 12 rising to 15 NOT 7 rising to 12.
Mindblowing sum for such a player.
@Fred,
Fred –
I got mine from the Press Associaton also an authority in Sports Reporting. Considering Arsenal never discloses its fees its pure conjecture.
@DaAdminGooner,
Press Association Sports and every other media outlet is reporting it as 12 M down and 3 M in add ons.
Arsenal might not disclose but Southampton does. And there are also tons of people involved so the sum is always leaked.
@Fred,
Fred – the PA report I got is for 7 million up to 12. Now that may have changed but when I wrote my piece that was what they are saying.
If you are purposely trying to be an ass. You are. If you want to continue my patience is rather low. So continue to try me.
@DaAdminGooner,
Purposely trying to be an ass?
What part of this do you find offensive?
“BBC and Soccernet (both are authorities in sports reporting) report that the transfer fee is 12 million down NOW and 3 million in add ons. So I believe it is 12 rising to 15 not 7 rising to 12.”
Numbers change ALL the time but that does not mean some one politely pointing out the change to you (so that it can be changed on the website) is attacking you in some way. Seriously!
“So continue to try me”? Get over yourself.
PS: Attack my opinion, statements, given data or what not as much as you want, I never take offense and I give as much as I get. But don’t dare insult me personally, just as I have never insulted you personally.
@Fred,
“with the club set to pay £5m up front and as much again, potentially, in performance-related add-ons. ” – the Guardian. I believe they have as much experience reporting Sports as do the BBC and ESPN.
Goes to show that no one knows what the number is. Frankly we may not know.
And Fred when you decided to say “(both are authorities in sports reporting)” you know exactly what you were doing.
Let’s say we drop it and move on.
@DaAdminGooner,
The Guardian also says 12 M. It might have been changed.
Once the BBC puts a figure, it is settled. If they do not know they will say undisclosed.
As for your quoted phrase …. you are not a sports reporting website so why do you even imagine that as against you? what words could I have substituted in there to convery the BBC and Soccernet’s clout without causing you offense?
None really.
Ofcourse we should drop it. It shouldnt have been picked in the first place.
On Alexander Oxlade-Chamberlain, this is the Mad Professor’s super-quality signing. Why are we even discussing his signature? He’s 17, we can have no expectation that he will achieve anything for us this coming season. Another brick in the wall of non-accountability. The suggested transfer fee is obscene and proves the nonsense of the tiresome sustainable business model. No doubt he’s paid a ridiculous amount in line with the many other teenage super-quality signings that now clutter our decks and that we can’t off-load because we overpay them.
The parallels to Theodore Walcott are just mind blowing.
On Gazidis, he did say nothing. He always says nothing. He’s the biggest flake of a CEO that Arsenal have ever appointed. He’s never said anything of interest to me whatsoever. I’ve seen his type in sports management before – fluff, no substance.
The funniest news story of the day is this:
Niklas Bendtner has confirmed he is leaving Arsenal. He said he has done his part with an unnamed club. He said the rest is up to Arsenal.
When asked by the reporter if the club he was going to was Stoke. He laughed.
[…] możecie przeczytać TU, Oxlade–Chamberlain zaczynał swoja karierę na pozycji ofensywnego pomocnika, dopiero później […]
In a meeting with ASIA – an Arsenal supporters group – Ivan Gazidis was asked why we weren’t going after a defencive signing.
His reply “How do you know we’re not?”
@DaAdminGooner, to which the reply was…. then you’re the worst negotiators in the history of sport!
The good news is we GOT the 17 year old.
The bad news is, Real Madrid beat us to the signature of a 7 year old Argentine… name Leo… (I kid you not!)
;)
@stag133,
Probably. I am just surprised he had the balls to say anything at all. I was expecting – we don’t speculate on transfers.