AOC happy to bide his time at Arsenal
Arsenal's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain insists that he has no issues with his lack of regular playing time this season.
By FOX SPORTS staff
The arrival of Santi Cazorla and Lukas Podolski, coupled with Theo Walcott's goal-scoring form has diminished Oxlade-Chamberlain's chances of featuring in the Arsenal starting line-up.
Making just 10 Premier League starts this season, Oxlade-Chamberlain told the club's official website that he was not worried by his omission from the first 11 as he was confident there was still time for him to make an impression on the Emirates Stadium faithful.
"I’m only 19 years of age and I’m at Arsenal, I know I’ve got to bide my time, and maybe this is one of those times. Just to get a start was really important to me, and I know that when I get the opportunity, I’ve got to make sure I try and take it," Oxlade-Chamberlain stated.
"It’s always nice for the confidence when you get a run of games. I had a few a couple of weeks ago, I think I played maybe five or six games on the spin and that was nice. I’ve got to expect to sometimes be pulled out because we’ve got so many talented players at this football club.
Everybody wants to play so you’ve got to take being taken out of the team sometimes, let someone else have a go and make sure you’re ready to come off the bench and affect the games and help the team."
The former Southampton man also revealed that he was taking pointers from former Arsenal captain Robin van Persie and team-mate Walcott in hopes of cementing his place in Arsene Wenger's starting 11 soon.
"I can remember last season, Robin van Persie came and spoke to me. He said ‘When I was first at the Club, I didn’t start, the boss used to take me in and out’. Look at the season he had last season, he was a key player. It was the same with Theo," Oxlade-Chamberlain shared.
"You’ve got to bide your time, especially when you’re young."
Arsenal travel to Sunderland for their next Premier League encounter on Saturday.