Why Arsene Wenger has failed Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at Arsenal

Should’ve been allowed out on loan

Like several young English players at Arsenal, Oxlade-Chamberlain has been made to sit and wait too often for first team football, which has seriously hindered their development.

Former Southampton teammate Theo Walcott is a prime example of this, as although he is doing well this season, the 27-year-old has only ever scored more than ten Premier League goals in a season once for the Gunners, and that was back in 2012/13.

Yet, when Walcott burst onto the scene for the Saints all the way back in 2005, he looked set to be the next big-thing in English football – he has scored just eight goals in 47 games for his country.

The same can be said of Oxlade-Chamberlain, whose is embarking on his best goal-scoring season at the Emirates this term, having netted six times, three of which coming in the League Cup. Before this term, his best was just four.

Clearly, the England star should have been allowed out on loan in the early stages of his Arsenal career to play first team football, and develop at the rate we all expected him to.

Instead, in his sixth season at the Emirates, Oxlade-Chamberlain is still waiting for a regular starting berth.