Premier League 
/ Richard Aikman / 29 January 2012 / Leave a Comment 
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was an eye-catcher last against Manchester United
"Like Walcott, OC has pace to burn, and plays on the flank, but unlike Walcott he has a robust physique, a powerful shot, the self-confidence and skill to trick his way past defenders and, most crucially of all, a footballing brain."
The Gunners' young winger has pace, skill and a lethal delivery - just what his club and country need, says Richard Aikman
It was Paolo Maldini who once said, "If you're good enough, you're old enough" and he should know. The former Italy international and AC Milan legend made his debut for the Rossoneri at the age of 16, was a first-team regular by the age of 17 and went on to become one of the best defenders of all time.
After just one Premier League appearance for Arsenal, comparisons with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are perhaps a touch premature and possibly incongruous given that he is an attacking midfielder. But the Gunners starlet is a player of such great potential that not only should he be a regular starter for Arsenal, but he should turn be included in England's European Championship squad.
It has been a season to forget for Arsène Wenger's side. Languishing five points adrift of Chelsea, the north Londoners are genuinely at risk of missing out on qualifying for next season's Champions League for the first time in 15 years. They are [3.75] to finish in the top four - and at present the only way they are likely to usurp the Blues is if they plant a rogue chef at Chelsea's training base at Cobham and get him to put lasagne on the menu.
That said, fourth place is still wide open, with Newcastle, who have the same points as Arsenal and a new star striker in their midst, a massive [26.0] to book their ticket to the promised land ? a huge price considering Liverpool, who are a point further back, are at [4.7]. But that's another story.
The Gunners are struggling at present, from the burnt-out wreckage of their campaign Oxlade-Chamberlain is emerging as a saving grace. Plucked from Southampton as a callow teenager like his predecessor Theo Walcott - the more obvious point of comparison - Arsenal fans are as hopeful for the England Under-19 international's future as they were for Walcott.
But while the 22-year-old has flattered to deceive in his six years under Wenger's tutelage, scoring just 21 goals in his 135 league appearances to date and offering countless peripheral performances, Oxlade-Chamberlain (AOC) already looks to have ten times the promise of his club-mate.
Like Walcott, OC has pace to burn, and plays on the flank, but unlike Walcott he has a robust physique, a powerful shot, the self-confidence and skill to trick his way past defenders and, most crucially of all, a footballing brain. While Walcott relies on his pace to beat players before sending over crosses, often to nobody in particular, the latest arrival from Southampton appears to have the innate knowledge of where to pass the ball and when, as he demonstrated when playing in a fine reverse pass for Robin van Persie's goal against Manchester United last Sunday.
United outplayed Arsenal last weekend and were worthy winners but Wenger will have drawn encouragement from the fact that, short of scoring, AOC gave an outstanding performance. A full league debut against Manchester United is a baptism of fire, but the 18-year-old showed no fear, taking the game to Phil Jones and, once he had burnt him out, Rafael ? and leading both a merry dance.
Oxlade Chamberlain needs to prove that he can deliver such performances on a regular basis but given Arsenal's injury problems, the absence on African Nations Cup duty of Gervinho and the abject displays of Andrei Arshavin in a red and white shirt, there should be no shortage of opportunities for the confident winger.
The teenager is so good that Fabio Capello could do worse than take him to Poland in Ukraine in the summer - and if Stewart Downing gets the nod ahead of him he will do. The Liverpool wide man has continued to disappoint at Anfield, providing poor service to Andy Carroll. Indeed, the Reds should be thinking about offloading their £20m winger rather than the cross-starved Carroll, who they are reportedly trying to ship to Manchester City.
"The next three months will tell us [whether he is ready," Wenger said on Friday.
"We live in a world of immediacy. Everything is instant. In September, I could not expect him to be so mature because he was still a boy. Now suddenly it looks like he can take pressure. He has the personality to produce under pressure. But he has still only played one game at the very top level so let's see how he does.
"I do not want to rule Euro 2012 out. Just because you are 18 years of age does not mean you should never play. At the same time after one good game you cannot say he has absolutely to go. You have to see what he will produce. We will see in the next three months. Why not?"
Walcott was the beneficiary of a surprise - and misguided - England wildcard selection at the 2006 World Cup and was culled from Capello's final selection for South Africa two years ago because of his inability to follow the Italian's instructions. AOC will pose no such problems because he so obviously knows what he is doing. He can run at players, cross, pass and get stuck in with the best of them; it all comes naturally to the son of former England international Mark Chamberlain and - as an unknown quantity - would be a valuable secret weapon for his country at the Euros.
He may still only be 18, but as Maldini would say, if he's good enough, he's old enough.
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