Oxlade-Chamberlain ready to make Arsenal pay for their mistake
By David Gate
Liverpool against Arsenal is a huge game for players of both clubs. But for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain it’s a chance to make the Gunners pay for their mistake.
The last game Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain played for Arsenal was against Liverpool in August, just a few days before the end of the transfer window. By the time that window had closed he was a Red. It is likely he put a circle around tomorrow’s game.
Liverpool travel to the Emirates on Friday to face Arsenal in a crucial Premier League match. The winner will hold the advantage after 19 games, the midway point of the campaign. Oxlade-Chamberlain will be desperate to play and make Arsenal pay.
There were a number of reasons for him to leave the Gunners but money wasn’t one of them. They, and Chelsea, offered him more money than he is earning at Anfield. Ultimately his choice came down to football and friends.
Arsene Wenger was always reluctant to play him in central midfield. He played most of his games as a wide forward or winger. As Arsenal changed to a 343 system last year he became their left-wing back.
After his excellent performance in the FA Cup final he was asked in the post match interview if he had finally ‘found his position’. His answer was clear: I want to play in the middle. Like Steven Gerrard.
Happy at Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp has kept his word and AOC is getting his chances in the middle, excelling against Bournemouth on Sunday. Yet that position was only one reason for leaving. The other was for the relationships and culture and Liverpool.
The last 12 years of under achievement under Wenger has bred a depressed and frustrated culture at the Emirates. Every season seems to be fractionally worse than the last. Liverpool have the hope and happiness that Klopp brings. They also have in Sturridge, Henderson, Lallana & Clyne a strong core of English players; his friends.
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Klopp has been rotating his players, giving them two games on and one game off. That puts Oxlade-Chamberlain in line to start tomorrow. He will be hoping to add to the Gunners’ depression on Friday night.