Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain says he could tell ‘right from the off’ that Max Dowman was a ‘proper player’ after being invited back to coach with Arsenal this winter.
After his Besiktas contract was terminated by mutual agreement in late August, Oxlade-Chamberlain has been putting within the hard yards to keep up his fitness levels with a view to finding a brand new club.
Intent on prolonging his playing profession, the 32-year-old midfielder decided to achieve out to Per Mertesacker, his former Arsenal team-mate, who now works as manager of the club’s academy programme.
Each Mertesacker and Mikel Arteta were immediately perceptive the concept, with Oxlade-Chamberlain confident that the experience couldn’t only profit himself, but in addition Arsenal’s younger players.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has gone on to work with Arsenal’s first-team and Under-21 squads, while also participating in behind-closed-doors friendlies against Watford and Manchester United for the Gunners.
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The likes of Gabriel Jesus, Charles Sagoe Jr and Dowman were also involved in Arsenal’s 3-0 victory over United on the weekend – and Oxlade-Chamberlain is clearly relishing being back on his old stomping ground.
‘It makes me much more determined to assist them by helping out a number of the younger players and sharing my experiences,’ he told The Athletic.
While Oxlade-Chamberlain has primarily been training with the U21s, he has also shared a pitch with Arteta’s senior squad, who’ve blown him away with their application and skill level.
Asked which players had most impressed him, Oxlade-Chamberlain, a three-time FA Cup winner with Arsenal, replied: ‘All of them.’
On Declan Rice, Oxlade-Chamberlain said: ‘Unbelievable, he was already an incredible player at West Ham but now he’s gone into one other stratosphere.
Turning his attentions to Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, he continued: ‘The standard he has got, the way in which he leads by example. Truthfully, I could keep going.’
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Having only previously watched Dowman through a TV screen, Oxlade-Chamberlain was looking forward to checking out exactly what the 15-year-old sensation looked like up close on the training ground.
The teenager made a direct impression along with his ball control and movement, however it was his ‘ really good character’ that also stood out to Oxlade-Chamberlain.
‘After I saw him for the primary time, I used to be considering, “Let’s see what all this talk is about”,’ he said of Dowman, who has since been ruled out for 2 months with ankle ligament damage.
‘It wasn’t even a session where you could possibly try this much, but right from the off, you could possibly tell he’s a proper player, the way in which he controls the ball and the way in which he moves.
‘And from what I see, he’s a extremely good character, mature in the way in which he carries himself.’
Oxlade-Chamberlain went on to name-check Gabriel Jesus, Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly as players who had shone during his time at London Colney.
‘What a player he’s,’ he said of Jesus.
‘I’ve played against him again and again, but just seeing how he trains, the way in which he works, how sharp his ending is, he’s really impressive.
‘And I’ve been really impressed by the young guys, like Max, Ethan and Myles
‘Ability-wise and the way in which they’re as characters, it’s really impressive at such a young age.’
Facing the media last month, Arteta said he was only too blissful to supply Oxlade-Chamberlain a helping hand while old team-mate was still with no club.
‘If we can assist him and provides him the space for him to get on top of things and have the capability to seek out a club,’ the Arsenal head coach told reporters.
‘It’s a joy, the boys will learn from it.
‘I had the privilege to play with him and if he’s around he can be a extremely good role model to have across the team.’
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