Liverpool helping Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain develop into player Arsenal wanted - there is still room to improve

Oxlade-Chamberlain has filled the void left by Philippe Coutinho's departure

Oxlade-Chamberlain is being trusted more at Liverpool but knows he must improve (Getty)

There are signs Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is developing into the player Arsenal hoped he would become when they beat Liverpool to his signing just before his 17^th birthday. Only, it is in a Liverpool shirt rather than an Arsenal one where the notice is being taken.

The midfielder took the decision last August to join the club that could not persuade him in 2010. His father Mark went on his behalf to Melwood that year, as spring eased into summer – a turbulent period in Liverpool’s history, when Rafael Benítez was getting the sack and Roy Hodgson came in; when Steven Gerrard was deployed to try and convince that everything was ok even though Liverpool were heading towards what at best can be described as ‘financial uncertainty’ under previous owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

Oxlade-Chamberlain chose Arsenal instead, with a promise from Arsène Wenger that he would shave around the rough edges and help complete his game – and most of all, win trophies.

Seven years raced by. There were some eye-catching moments in that time but not enough. Against AC Milan in the Champions League in 2012, Wenger described Oxlade-Chamberlain’s performance from the centre of midfield as top “class.” Yet Arsenal would lose the tie gloriously – a game that encapsulated an era. Following a 4-0 hammering in Italy during the first leg they would nearly turn it around in the second, winning 3-0. Oxlade-Chamberlain, brought in from the cold, was instrumental, setting up two of the goals.

Wenger never really trusted him to play in the centre, though. It had been Oxlade-Chamberlain’s position since childhood. Because he was fast, it was interpreted that he would be better on the wing – or even as wing-back. At 24, he chose to move away, to establish himself elsewhere rather than acting as the help when others with more experience were unavailable.

In September, a week after he’d joined Liverpool, Thierry Henry – a former coach at Arsenal – questioned the player’s ability. “It still don’t know what he’s good at…” Henry remarked. Gary Neville was similarly critical – another former coach with England, suggesting he was not good enough to get in Liverpool’s best XI.

Oxlade-Chamberlain was reminded of this after his surging man-of-the-match display in Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Newcastle on Saturday. His reaction was to smile initially. It was put to him that he was clearly aware of what had been said.

“I was very aware of those comments, yes,” he responded. “It is not nice to hear it from your peers or people you have worked with. I have worked with them both in different capacities. They can have their own opinions. It cannot shake me. Fair enough if that is what they think. I am not really too bothered.

“The important thing is that when I came here I had a manager who had faith in me and he felt something different to that and I had faith in myself. That is why I made the step. That is the most important thing. Everyone says you have to be your own biggest fan and believe in yourself. I am old enough and wise enough and I have been around it long enough to know that things will be said and not nice things a lot of the time. And when you are doing well, nice things will be said. That is all part and parcel of it. As you said it is never nice to hear it from people you have worked with.”

He was asked whether he has since made contact with either Henry or Neville. “No. I don’t need to. If people want to say those things, you remember them, you don’t forget them, but I am not here to make enemies. If that is what they think, fair enough.”

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain celebrates after putting Liverpool in front against Manchester City (Getty)

Perhaps it is a reflection of Henry and Neville’s abilities as coaches rather than the player’s standing that they are not able to spot strengths that lay hidden. Under Jürgen Klopp, Oxlade-Chamberlain is becoming an important figure in the midfield and he has so far risen to the challenge of filling the void left behind by Philippe Coutinho to the point where nobody at the moment is talking about how much Liverpool are missing the Brazilian.

Oxlade-Chamberlain would go a little further when pushed again about Henry’s observations particularly.

“Those comments are probably a bit stupid,” he reacted. “When you have watched someone long enough you know what they can do. I think it was more aimed at the end product side of things and doing those things that lead to scoring a goal or setting up a goal. Fair enough, I will take those comments on the chin.

“Saying ‘you don’t know what I do’ when you have worked with me, I think it is a bit stupid. If they are referencing more end product then that is fair enough, I hold my hands up. That is something that I have been working on and still need to work on. But like we spoke about, it is about end product, scoring goals, setting up goals as an attacking player and that is what I have to keep doing and it is not about just doing it for a couple of games but as many as you can.”

This was not Oxlade-Chamberlain saying, “Look at me, everybody – I’ve changed; I’ve shown you all up to be absolutely wrong.” This was him recognising some distance is to be travelled before he meets his own expectations, never mind those of others.

It is the opinion of Klopp, of course, that matters most now. There he was in the next room shattering any suggestion that Liverpool are doing well and that is enough for him. It was put to Klopp that his team have become better at breaking down opponents like Newcastle that sit back. His instinct to argue otherwise shows you that he really means it when he repeats the idea that none of his players should feel settled just because they are playing very well and that includes Oxlade-Chamberlain, who was involuntarily singled out in his answer. Liverpool have won nothing yet.

“We looked patient but inside it’s not exactly what you feel,” Klopp admitted. “It’s not about passing the ball, it’s about moving the formation. Then they make mistakes. Ox in the first half should have been in the No 10 more often. You have two sixes, two wide and high full backs. Where can you pass the ball? You need the players in behind. We weren’t high enough because they were really compact. We had three midfielders really deep. The only real target was Roberto [Firmino], against two and a covering midfielder, so we lost a few balls we don’t usually. That doesn’t help. You can do better in these situations.”