Arsenal: Southampton Return Offers Painful Walcott And Chamberlain Reminder
Arsenal are set to host Southampton on Saturday, and the match offers a painful reminder of Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s stalling careers.
Arsenal’s squad consists of a variety of characters. From the world stars of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez to the gritty underdog in Francis Coquelin, there is a plethora of different talents and people within the side. However, there is perhaps one overriding class above all else: the underachieving English prodigy.
Arsene Wenger was determined to instil an English core, something that had been integral to the success of his sides early in his tenure in North London. To do so, he envisaged the simultaneous development of a host of young, homegrown players would culminate in a talented and determined squad, brimming with English (or Welsh) quality.
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Such dreams never materialised, with many of Wenger’s darling suffering from form and fitness issues throughout their careers. Jack Wilshere and Calum Chambers have now left the club on season-long loans, Aaron Ramsey is once again injured and Kieran Gibbs is unable to force his way into the starting lineup with Nacho Monreal performing so well last season.
Two players whose careers have mirrored each other at an alarming rate are fellow right wingers Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Now, with Arsenal set to host their former club this weekend, Saturday’s match simply acts as a painful reminder of the stalling and stagnating careers of these once lauded youngsters.
Both signed at 17 from Southampton, both were seen as the future of both England’s and Arsenal’s attack and both possessed frightening pace and ability. However, in a concoction of positional uncertainty, injuries and continual knocks of confidence, the two have seen their careers stall to the extent that now they are seen as nothing more than rotational members of the Gunners’ squad.
While the talent, for both, is still evidently clear, the progression has not followed. Theo, now entering his second decade in North London is still a decisive figure among the Arsenal faithful, with few able to agree on a fair evaluation of his game, while Chamberlain is struggling to find regular playing time, something that has only been made more difficult with the recent rise of Alex Iwobi and addition Lucas Perez.
Saturday’s match against Southampton simply serves as a reminder of the failures of Wenger, the club, the coaching staff and the players to build upon what was initially an exciting blank canvas with endless possibilities. The Ox and Walcott can still develop into the players that were once expected of them, but time is quickly running out.