What is the point of "The Ox"?

[selassie]

We need to re-evaluate the quality of a few players. I’ve defended Ox but I can’t anymore. This is the same pattern as last season. A good preseason but then he chokes when the season kicks off. He’s lucky Wenger played him yesterday considering how poor he played over the weekend. It’s not down to a lack of effort. That’s for sure. We need someone to have a word in his ear. It won’t come from the manager and I have no idea who in the squad can talk some sense into him. He shouldn’t be starting games until he figures it out. It’s gone horribly wrong for him.

Agreed. I have been a supporter of him up until this season really, I'm losing patience with him now though as he can't even get the basics right.

I suspect Wenger will try and play him back into form, similar to what he did with Ramsey a few seasons back. I hope he doesn't though as we are not good enough to carry him at the moment, he needs to build back his confidence by coming off the bench with cameos, hopefully good ones.

I really don't know what to think anymore regarding him, once Theo & Ramsey are back Ox should naturally drop down the pecking order, he's behind Iwobi now for me.

[Niall_Quinn]

Just another victim of another Wenger myth. It has long been held that Wenger nurtures young talent and is one of the best in the business at bringing that talent to the fore. Of course, what nonsense. Wenger has a statistically insignificant hit rate when it comes to developing young players. There's a stream of shattered prospects drowning in this man's wake. Ox is another byproduct of this shoddy production line. Brought up the right way by a competent Southampton operation that has produced so much young talent, once in the hands of Wenger Ox's fate was sealed. Too much exposure too early, as usual. Too much money. A haphazard path to the first team and then random selection thereafter punctuated by the gift of the Arsenal injury curse. Pennant/ Walcott/ Bentley/ Wilshere/ insert your favourite here. The odd ones out are both called Cole. Andy and Cashley. Cashley had great players around him and emerged as a great player himself. Andy did what Ox needs to do, run away as fast as he can and reboot his career. There's a good player in there that can be extracted if a competent manager gets hold of him in time. Or, if by some miracle, Wenger pisses off at the end of this season, maybe the Walcotts and the Wilsheres and Ox can be rescued, provided Wenger doesn't get to inflict his choice for the next manager on the club. Too many ifs and buts, Ox would be better off getting out.

[Power n Glory]

Agreed. I have been a supporter of him up until this season really, I'm losing patience with him now though as he can't even get the basics right.

I suspect Wenger will try and play him back into form, similar to what he did with Ramsey a few seasons back. I hope he doesn't though as we are not good enough to carry him at the moment, he needs to build back his confidence by coming off the bench with cameos, hopefully good ones.

I really don't know what to think anymore regarding him, once Theo & Ramsey are back Ox should naturally drop down the pecking order, he's behind Iwobi now for me.

It makes even less sense to see Campbell loaned out. That guy could defend, score and assist.

[selassie]

It makes even less sense to see Campbell loaned out. That guy could defend, score and assist.

Yeah, I was chatting to a fellow Gooner about this at work. Wenger will persevere with OX as he has invested a lot of money and time in him, he's one of his "Pet Projects". Campbell was a random punt so to speak, honestly I don't think Wenger really wants Campbell here as he's blocking progress for his darlings. Campbell did well last season, he should be here now getting games.

[Niall_Quinn]

Campbell is still not Arsenal quality, at least not the quality we should be striving for at a club with so many resources at its disposal and so much history and tradition. But yes, he is a damn sight more effective than serial wasters like Walcott and Ox. Self imposed beggars can't be choosers, unless they have a notorious fool as a manager.

[Power n Glory]

Just another victim of another Wenger myth. It has long been held that Wenger nurtures young talent and is one of the best in the business at bringing that talent to the fore. Of course, what nonsense. Wenger has a statistically insignificant hit rate when it comes to developing young players. There's a stream of shattered prospects drowning in this man's wake. Ox is another byproduct of this shoddy production line. Brought up the right way by a competent Southampton operation that has produced so much young talent, once in the hands of Wenger Ox's fate was sealed. Too much exposure too early, as usual. Too much money. A haphazard path to the first team and then random selection thereafter punctuated by the gift of the Arsenal injury curse. Pennant/ Walcott/ Bentley/ Wilshere/ insert your favourite here. The odd ones out are both called Cole. Andy and Cashley. Cashley had great players around him and emerged as a great player himself. Andy did what Ox needs to do, run away as fast as he can and reboot his career. There's a good player in there that can be extracted if a competent manager gets hold of him in time. Or, if by some miracle, Wenger pisses off at the end of this season, maybe the Walcotts and the Wilsheres and Ox can be rescued, provided Wenger doesn't get to inflict his choice for the next manager on the club. Too many ifs and buts, Ox would be better off getting out.

I’ve almost finished reading Bergkamp’s book. So far he hasn’t mentioned Wenger that much but I’ve noticed how much the players talk about how much other players influenced them. We really had a special camp and Henry often talks about the way Dennis Bergkamp would train and how that inspired him. How seeing him on the pitch always giving 100% pushed him to play with such commitment. It had a trickle effect because everyone would train just as hard. That environment and accumulation of players made that squad better. Iron sharpening iron. It makes sense why we’re struggling now. I understand even more why Cesc left. He should have been learning from better players but he was made captain and as an incomplete player, being held up as an example for other young players to follow. Now way should he have been one of our most senior players.

[selassie]

Campbell is still not Arsenal quality, at least not the quality we should be striving for at a club with so many resources at its disposal and so much history and tradition. But yes, he is a damn sight more effective than serial wasters like Walcott and Ox. Self imposed beggars can't be choosers, unless they have a notorious fool as a manager.

Oh I agree. If Wenger would have acted early in the market and spent the vast amount of money we have then I suspect we could have upgraded the wings with true quality, heck we could have even bought a proper striker.

[Letters]

Iron sharpening iron.

Mmm...Biblical.

[mastermind84]

Just another victim of another Wenger myth. It has long been held that Wenger nurtures young talent and is one of the best in the business at bringing that talent to the fore. Of course, what nonsense. Wenger has a statistically insignificant hit rate when it comes to developing young players. There's a stream of shattered prospects drowning in this man's wake. Ox is another byproduct of this shoddy production line. Brought up the right way by a competent Southampton operation that has produced so much young talent, once in the hands of Wenger Ox's fate was sealed. Too much exposure too early, as usual. Too much money. A haphazard path to the first team and then random selection thereafter punctuated by the gift of the Arsenal injury curse. Pennant/ Walcott/ Bentley/ Wilshere/ insert your favourite here. The odd ones out are both called Cole. Andy and Cashley. Cashley had great players around him and emerged as a great player himself. Andy did what Ox needs to do, run away as fast as he can and reboot his career. There's a good player in there that can be extracted if a competent manager gets hold of him in time. Or, if by some miracle, Wenger pisses off at the end of this season, maybe the Walcotts and the Wilsheres and Ox can be rescued, provided Wenger doesn't get to inflict his choice for the next manager on the club. Too many ifs and buts, Ox would be better off getting out.

Partly true, but Ox has no fight in him.

He will be gone in January or next summer.

[Penguin]

I still love Ox but he's throwing every opportunity he's given down the drain. Theo and Iwobi are outperforming him and If Wenger starts using Perez as a wide player he might not get a run in the team again. The Wilshere loan should have wrung alarm bells in his head. It's now or never for him in an Arsenal shirt.