HE has already replaced Wayne Rooney on the cover of one of the country’s most popular computer games.
Now Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain says he is ready to take over from Alex Song as the kingpin of Arsenal’s midfield — by becoming the Emirates’ very own version of Steven Gerrard.
Song became the latest big name to quit the Gunners when he joined Barcelona in a shock £15million switch this week.
But wideboy Oxlade-Chamberlain reckons he has what it takes to step inside and move into the Cameroon star’s role in the centre of the park.
England’s emerging teen sensation said: “They are big shoes to fill but you’ve got that anywhere at Arsenal. In any position you’ve got a big role to play and big shoes to fill. You only have to look back at the Invincibles and the team that won the league — they are massive shoes to fill for us.
“Whenever you’re playing on the pitch you have to step up to the plate and perform.
“Alex Song was a great player for us and he was a big player for us — but we’ve got a strong enough squad. I’m definitely confident of that and I’m definitely confident of filling Alex’s role.”
Oxlade-Chamberlain, who turned 19 this month, has only been at Arsenal for 12 months but is fast becoming one of the hottest names in English football.
So much so that he has knocked his Three Lions team-mate Rooney off the front of FIFA 13.
The Ox admits he plays himself as a striker whenever he plays the popular computer game. And now he is ready to switch positions in real life for the Gunners — by converting to central midfield on a permanent basis following Song’s exit.
The son of ex-England wideman Mark Chamberlain was a winger when he arrived at Arsenal from Southampton in a £15m switch last August.
But Gunners boss Arsene Wenger was already viewing the powerful youngster as a future middleman.
The Ox, speaking as he was unveiled as the face of EA SPORTS FIFA 13, revealed: “I remember on the day I actually signed he asked me where I saw myself playing.
“My dad was in the room and said ‘Centre mid, he’s a midfielder’.
“The boss sort of laughed and said ‘I think he could be as well’. He said maybe to start off with I would be out wide and last season I did play the majority of my games on the wing.
“But the boss has been pushing more this season to try my hand in a more central position.
“If I can prove I can play in that position as well then that will help me and my career at Arsenal.”
Oxlade-Chamberlain, who was in Roy Hodgson’s England squad for the Euros, revealed he models his central midfield game on Three Lions skipper Stevie G.
The young Gunner said: “I’ve been watching him since I was a young lad.
“Back in his early days I remember he used to make bursting runs from deep all the way up front and get in the box and score goals. Frank Lampard used to as well.
“So that’s a side of my game I want to add to — scoring more goals. More in terms of getting myself into the box and having that drive and instinct. Gambling to get to the back post and gambling to get to the front post.
“That way you score more goals. But that comes with experience I think. Once you score one like that you keep doing it.
“I haven’t got that goal yet where I’ve burst into the box. Once I get that one I’m sure I’ll keep on doing it. I’ve just got to improve.” The recent departures of Song and skipper Robin van Persie have left a cloud over the Emirates.
That darkened after Wenger’s men drew 0-0 at home to Sunderland last Saturday.
But Oxlade-Chamberlain, who hopes to return from an ankle injury at Stoke tomorrow, said: “Everyone wrote us off last season after our start and we still finished third.
“We’re all confident players and it’s Arsenal Football Club. If we didn’t believe we were going to win the league then there’s something wrong.
“We keep our feet on the ground and work hard. The manager is as enthusiastic as ever and confident.
“He’s put his faith in us and it’s early doors in the season. We don’t get carried away at all, we just take it game by game.
“I think we can do good things this season and we’re all working hard to make that happen.”
And after another summer exodus at the Emirates, Gooners everywhere can be pleased there is one big name happy to stay at their club.
Oxlade-Chamberlain said: “It’s a really nice place to be. It’s really relaxed and the boys get looked after well.
“When it comes to football, the boss is really serious and we’re all really serious about that.
“But off the pitch we’re in a different environment and a lot of that is down to the people who have been here 15 or 20 years.
“It’s perfect for me. I’m loving every minute of it and I get the same feeling off all the rest of the lads.”
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Originally Posted by Arsenal.com
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