Arsenal's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Kieran Gibbs bask in the glow of derby win but now want a title challenge
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The youthful Gunners pair are excited about the arrival of Germany playmaker Mesut Özil from Real Madrid, and stress the need to balance high-quality foreign signings with giving the English kids a chance.
Jim White: Alex, how did your signing at Arsenal compare with Bale’s
inauguration in Madrid this week?
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: I went to the training ground, did the
medical, they gave me a shirt, took a few pictures and that was it. It
seemed weird watching his all unfold, but good luck to him.
JW: Did you play with him at Southampton?
AO-C: No, I’m too young. I saw him around the training ground, remember
him from when I was younger.
JW: What is about Southampton that they have produced Bale, Theo
Walcott, you? Is there something in the water?
AO-C: It’s a great club, great facilities, the way they’ve created an
environment for young players to learn is exceptional. To be fair, Arsenal
is the same, just like that. But it’s Arsenal Football Club and it’s much
harder for the boys to get an opportunity in the first team.
Whereas at Southampton, with it being a bit of a smaller club, maybe there are more opportunities for younger players coming in, promising players who then gain experience and develop to the next level.
A lot of academy players coming through nowadays are top quality players, with all the attributes from an early age.
They only thing they might lack is the physical side. At Southampton, back in my day with less money around, the young boys got more of a chance.
I came through when they’d dropped down into League One. Again, that’s more of an opportunity to come through. They put a lot of faith in young players and that’s the most important thing. But I see that at Arsenal.
JW: The transfer window closed this week. Do you players get as excited as the fans and reporters? Were the pair of you outside the Arsenal training ground jumping up and down for the cameras?
Kieran Gibbs: It’s funny you should say that. Everyone expects us to know what’s going on, so you’re constantly get “who’s going?” “who’s coming?” We don’t have a clue. Our guess is as good as anyone else’s.
AO-C: Literally from three o’clock when I got back from physio yesterday, I sat in the office with my computer, telly on and watched it straight.
My friends came over, we went out for dinner, then watched again through till eleven. Just sat on the sofa, loving it. It’s a real buzz, I get excited just like the ordinary fan. Just to see what’s going on, getting your head around a player putting on a different shirt. There’s always twists and turns. We’re in anticipation as much as anyone else.
JW: When you heard Mesut Özil had signed for your club what was your reaction?
KG: Jumped in the air. But you don’t even have to be an Arsenal fan to jump in the air. When you find out that a world class player like that is coming to England you’re going to jump for joy even if you’re a Tottenham fan.
Well, maybe not a Tottenham fan, I won’t push it too far. In the end the fans and the people inside the club have got what they want: a really great addition.
JW: You won’t meet him for a week or so.
KG: It’s a good time for him to get prepared. Per [Mertesacker] will fill him in when they’re with Germany this weekend.
JW: Tell us about the North London derby. I believe you won.
KG: Winning gives you a sense of ownership of the city if you like. It’s definitely getting bigger. Look at the old days compared to now, it’s huge. The pressure’s more on with both teams getting stronger. Without a doubt Tottenham have improved and that game is becoming more of a challenge for us.
AO-C: That was my fifth, but I’ve never featured much. I’ve never started in one. That’s a definite ambition, to walk out there into that atmosphere.
I sat behind the bench for the first half on Sunday and then up in a box the second and the atmosphere was unbelievable.
The nerves I was feeling, I did not uncross my fingers once for the last ten minutes. When you play for Arsenal you know how much this fixture means.
It’s massive to us as players, but to the fans more than anything it’s so important. When you win that game, the sense of achievement is always that more special. I was a nervous wreck watching it.
KG: I’ve played in a few now, and every time it seems to get more intense. You can feel there’s something special.
JW: The atmosphere seemed extraordinary.
KG: For me, that and the AC Milan game, were the best I’ve known. And the Barcelona 2-1. It’s difficult for teams to play against us when the stadium’s like that.
JW: Does an atmosphere that fired up stimulate you or simply add to the nerves?
KG: When the game starts the nerves kind of go, adrenalin comes in.
AO-C: Yeah, it’s much worse sat watching than playing. You’ve got no control, you don’t know what’s going to happen. I really felt for the fans now I’ve seen it from their position. Really I was far more nervous.
JW: Had Spurs’ summer spending spree made you more nervous?
KG: I think it added extra, you know, spice to it. They’ve spent this amount, can we still challenge them? And I think the team responded really well. It’s not always about how much you spend. I think we showed real character.
JW: 78% of players bought in transfer window by Premier League clubs are foreigners. As young Englishmen do you feel like you’re becoming an endangered species?
AO-C: It’s a tricky one. To a certain extent. But there are a lot of young players out there stepping up and proving their worth: Daniel Sturridge, Danny Welbeck. We’ve got Jack, Gibbo, Carl Jenkinson. I still think of Theo as young. I’ve been pleased to see Ross Barkley and Andros Townsend doing well.
But the Premier League is a very strong league, a lot of foreign players want to come here. And the big name players want to come, there’s a lot of money in the game, which means clubs can attract the stars from overseas.
At the same time, bringing in world-class players is only going to improve those already here. For me and Kieran to be able to work with Mesut Özil is surely good.
We’re aspiring to become England regulars, to learn how the foreign boys play will help us when we go on international duty. It definitely strengthens the league. Just as long as there is opportunity for young English boys.
JW: There is a good cohort of young Englishmen at Arsenal. It could be the core of England side for next decade.
KG: Yeah, hopefully. But firstly we’ve all got to play. We’re still learning. You mention someone like Theo and I watched him last year, I thought he rapidly improved. We have to focus on playing consistently week in week out for our clubs and then the end goal would be on an international stage.
JW: Kieran, your position is well catered for with [Ashley] Cole and [Leighton] Baines ahead of you in the queue for the England shirt. Ever thought of becoming a centre forward?
KG: Ha! I was going to after I scored the other week. But the boys suggested it might be an idea to hold back a bit.
JW: But when you see that level of talent ahead of you, does it make you think you have no chance?
KG: When you look at them, because they play so consistently, it makes you think: what are they doing right? You look up to them. To me it motivates me to be more like them. Be more consistent.
JW: Alex, what is it going to be like watching England over the weekend with your leg strapped?
AO-C: Again, it will be hard. You always want to be involved. Especially this early on in the season, you want to lay down a marker. I thought I had quite a good pre-season, got a lot of game time.
I was feeling fit, so to get injured within forty minutes of the start of the season was really frustrating. Bad timing.
Our main goal on the England front is qualifying for next year and I can’t help. I’ve been involved pretty frequently through this campaign and you want to see it through.
You want to help the boys to the end goal. It will be tough to watch. But there’s so many quality players I’m sure they can get the job done. I’ll be watching as a fan. I’m really happy to see Ross Barkley in the squad, and Townsend, two unbelievable players.
JW: You’ve done all right in Brazil [he scored in England’s draw in the Maracana in June], presumably you want to go back.
AO-C: Definitely. It was a nice game, wasn’t a bad result for us or me. Experiencing a friendly out there, wow you can only imagine what the real deal’s going to be like. It’ll be an unbelievable experience.
JW: Are you optimistic about England qualifying?
KG: Without a doubt. I watch every game they play, I always feel they’re in control. I’ve no doubts they’ll qualify.
JW: And finally, to more immediate matters. Are Arsenal real title contenders this year? Or is simply making the top four the aim?
AO-C: We’ve been contenders ever since I came to Arsenal. Or at least that’s the feeling in the squad. We really think we can take the title.
Obviously it hasn’t happened in recent seasons. But in the form we showed at the end of last season, and - when I was watching from the sidelines - in the spirit we’ve shown at the start of this, in the derby, everyone was fighting for each other.
That team spirit, you can’t buy it. That, along with our manager and the signings he’s just made, I’m absolutely full of optimism that this season can be a good one.
Without doubt we think we can win the title. Just like we believe we can win every competition we’re in. If you don’t believe that, if you aren’t striving, then you don’t deserve to be at Arsenal.
JW: Kieran, is this the best feeling you’ve had as a group, or are you always optimistic?
KG: Well, you’re always optimistic. But I think the way we finished last season gave us a lot of confidence. And, yeah, since I’ve been there, this is the strongest I’ve felt. Especially because quality players haven’t left.
JW: You haven’t lost [Robin] Van Persie or [Cesc] Fabregas this summer, you mean.
KG: Exactly. That’s really important. And players like Santi [Carzola] have got another year’s experience.
JW: From the outside, the Premier League seems impossible to predict. There’s the two Manchester teams, Chelsea, you, but Tottenham and Liverpool have really strengthened over the summer. There’s at least six teams capable of doing something. Do you see it as more open?
KG: Actually, I thought it was six last year. Plus Everton, who were in with a shout until the last eight games. You can’t underestimate any team in the Premier League any more. There’s no game you can go: yeah, that’s three points.
JW: Oh come on, you must look at the fixture list and go: yup, we’ve got that.
KG: Nope, you cannot go into a game thinking this is ours. Because if you do you get slapped. I tell you, no game is easy in the Premier League any more.
AO-C: There’s always surprises in football. We turned up at Bradford last season in the [Capital One] cup and maybe we thought we were going to win.
And we lost. Same with the FA Cup game against Blackburn. Nobody in our side would have gone in beforehand thinking it’s easy, but maybe subconsciously you switch off a little bit. And you get punished.
It’s a credit to English football that Championship clubs and below have quality players who can really show you up. So like Kieran said, you have to go into every game on your mettle, with absolute full concentration to get the job done.
That’s how you come out on top.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is a BT Sport Ambassador
Whereas at Southampton, with it being a bit of a smaller club, maybe there are more opportunities for younger players coming in, promising players who then gain experience and develop to the next level.
A lot of academy players coming through nowadays are top quality players, with all the attributes from an early age.
They only thing they might lack is the physical side. At Southampton, back in my day with less money around, the young boys got more of a chance.
I came through when they’d dropped down into League One. Again, that’s more of an opportunity to come through. They put a lot of faith in young players and that’s the most important thing. But I see that at Arsenal.
JW: The transfer window closed this week. Do you players get as excited as the fans and reporters? Were the pair of you outside the Arsenal training ground jumping up and down for the cameras?
Kieran Gibbs: It’s funny you should say that. Everyone expects us to know what’s going on, so you’re constantly get “who’s going?” “who’s coming?” We don’t have a clue. Our guess is as good as anyone else’s.
AO-C: Literally from three o’clock when I got back from physio yesterday, I sat in the office with my computer, telly on and watched it straight.
My friends came over, we went out for dinner, then watched again through till eleven. Just sat on the sofa, loving it. It’s a real buzz, I get excited just like the ordinary fan. Just to see what’s going on, getting your head around a player putting on a different shirt. There’s always twists and turns. We’re in anticipation as much as anyone else.
JW: When you heard Mesut Özil had signed for your club what was your reaction?
KG: Jumped in the air. But you don’t even have to be an Arsenal fan to jump in the air. When you find out that a world class player like that is coming to England you’re going to jump for joy even if you’re a Tottenham fan.
Well, maybe not a Tottenham fan, I won’t push it too far. In the end the fans and the people inside the club have got what they want: a really great addition.
JW: You won’t meet him for a week or so.
KG: It’s a good time for him to get prepared. Per [Mertesacker] will fill him in when they’re with Germany this weekend.
JW: Tell us about the North London derby. I believe you won.
KG: Winning gives you a sense of ownership of the city if you like. It’s definitely getting bigger. Look at the old days compared to now, it’s huge. The pressure’s more on with both teams getting stronger. Without a doubt Tottenham have improved and that game is becoming more of a challenge for us.
AO-C: That was my fifth, but I’ve never featured much. I’ve never started in one. That’s a definite ambition, to walk out there into that atmosphere.
I sat behind the bench for the first half on Sunday and then up in a box the second and the atmosphere was unbelievable.
The nerves I was feeling, I did not uncross my fingers once for the last ten minutes. When you play for Arsenal you know how much this fixture means.
It’s massive to us as players, but to the fans more than anything it’s so important. When you win that game, the sense of achievement is always that more special. I was a nervous wreck watching it.
KG: I’ve played in a few now, and every time it seems to get more intense. You can feel there’s something special.
JW: The atmosphere seemed extraordinary.
KG: For me, that and the AC Milan game, were the best I’ve known. And the Barcelona 2-1. It’s difficult for teams to play against us when the stadium’s like that.
JW: Does an atmosphere that fired up stimulate you or simply add to the nerves?
KG: When the game starts the nerves kind of go, adrenalin comes in.
AO-C: Yeah, it’s much worse sat watching than playing. You’ve got no control, you don’t know what’s going to happen. I really felt for the fans now I’ve seen it from their position. Really I was far more nervous.
JW: Had Spurs’ summer spending spree made you more nervous?
KG: I think it added extra, you know, spice to it. They’ve spent this amount, can we still challenge them? And I think the team responded really well. It’s not always about how much you spend. I think we showed real character.
JW: 78% of players bought in transfer window by Premier League clubs are foreigners. As young Englishmen do you feel like you’re becoming an endangered species?
AO-C: It’s a tricky one. To a certain extent. But there are a lot of young players out there stepping up and proving their worth: Daniel Sturridge, Danny Welbeck. We’ve got Jack, Gibbo, Carl Jenkinson. I still think of Theo as young. I’ve been pleased to see Ross Barkley and Andros Townsend doing well.
But the Premier League is a very strong league, a lot of foreign players want to come here. And the big name players want to come, there’s a lot of money in the game, which means clubs can attract the stars from overseas.
At the same time, bringing in world-class players is only going to improve those already here. For me and Kieran to be able to work with Mesut Özil is surely good.
We’re aspiring to become England regulars, to learn how the foreign boys play will help us when we go on international duty. It definitely strengthens the league. Just as long as there is opportunity for young English boys.
JW: There is a good cohort of young Englishmen at Arsenal. It could be the core of England side for next decade.
KG: Yeah, hopefully. But firstly we’ve all got to play. We’re still learning. You mention someone like Theo and I watched him last year, I thought he rapidly improved. We have to focus on playing consistently week in week out for our clubs and then the end goal would be on an international stage.
JW: Kieran, your position is well catered for with [Ashley] Cole and [Leighton] Baines ahead of you in the queue for the England shirt. Ever thought of becoming a centre forward?
KG: Ha! I was going to after I scored the other week. But the boys suggested it might be an idea to hold back a bit.
JW: But when you see that level of talent ahead of you, does it make you think you have no chance?
KG: When you look at them, because they play so consistently, it makes you think: what are they doing right? You look up to them. To me it motivates me to be more like them. Be more consistent.
JW: Alex, what is it going to be like watching England over the weekend with your leg strapped?
AO-C: Again, it will be hard. You always want to be involved. Especially this early on in the season, you want to lay down a marker. I thought I had quite a good pre-season, got a lot of game time.
I was feeling fit, so to get injured within forty minutes of the start of the season was really frustrating. Bad timing.
Our main goal on the England front is qualifying for next year and I can’t help. I’ve been involved pretty frequently through this campaign and you want to see it through.
You want to help the boys to the end goal. It will be tough to watch. But there’s so many quality players I’m sure they can get the job done. I’ll be watching as a fan. I’m really happy to see Ross Barkley in the squad, and Townsend, two unbelievable players.
JW: You’ve done all right in Brazil [he scored in England’s draw in the Maracana in June], presumably you want to go back.
AO-C: Definitely. It was a nice game, wasn’t a bad result for us or me. Experiencing a friendly out there, wow you can only imagine what the real deal’s going to be like. It’ll be an unbelievable experience.
JW: Are you optimistic about England qualifying?
KG: Without a doubt. I watch every game they play, I always feel they’re in control. I’ve no doubts they’ll qualify.
JW: And finally, to more immediate matters. Are Arsenal real title contenders this year? Or is simply making the top four the aim?
AO-C: We’ve been contenders ever since I came to Arsenal. Or at least that’s the feeling in the squad. We really think we can take the title.
Obviously it hasn’t happened in recent seasons. But in the form we showed at the end of last season, and - when I was watching from the sidelines - in the spirit we’ve shown at the start of this, in the derby, everyone was fighting for each other.
That team spirit, you can’t buy it. That, along with our manager and the signings he’s just made, I’m absolutely full of optimism that this season can be a good one.
Without doubt we think we can win the title. Just like we believe we can win every competition we’re in. If you don’t believe that, if you aren’t striving, then you don’t deserve to be at Arsenal.
JW: Kieran, is this the best feeling you’ve had as a group, or are you always optimistic?
KG: Well, you’re always optimistic. But I think the way we finished last season gave us a lot of confidence. And, yeah, since I’ve been there, this is the strongest I’ve felt. Especially because quality players haven’t left.
JW: You haven’t lost [Robin] Van Persie or [Cesc] Fabregas this summer, you mean.
KG: Exactly. That’s really important. And players like Santi [Carzola] have got another year’s experience.
JW: From the outside, the Premier League seems impossible to predict. There’s the two Manchester teams, Chelsea, you, but Tottenham and Liverpool have really strengthened over the summer. There’s at least six teams capable of doing something. Do you see it as more open?
KG: Actually, I thought it was six last year. Plus Everton, who were in with a shout until the last eight games. You can’t underestimate any team in the Premier League any more. There’s no game you can go: yeah, that’s three points.
JW: Oh come on, you must look at the fixture list and go: yup, we’ve got that.
KG: Nope, you cannot go into a game thinking this is ours. Because if you do you get slapped. I tell you, no game is easy in the Premier League any more.
AO-C: There’s always surprises in football. We turned up at Bradford last season in the [Capital One] cup and maybe we thought we were going to win.
And we lost. Same with the FA Cup game against Blackburn. Nobody in our side would have gone in beforehand thinking it’s easy, but maybe subconsciously you switch off a little bit. And you get punished.
It’s a credit to English football that Championship clubs and below have quality players who can really show you up. So like Kieran said, you have to go into every game on your mettle, with absolute full concentration to get the job done.
That’s how you come out on top.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is a BT Sport Ambassador
