Liverpool splashed the cash to sign Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain last month.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger (L) and Martin Keown
Pundit Martin Keown has told the Daily Mail that it’s time for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to live up to his billing after he left Arsenal to join Premier League rivals Liverpool last month.
Oxlade-Chamberlain, now 24, joined Arsenal from Southampton back in the summer of 2011 having emerged as one of English football’s brightest young talents, hitting ten goals in 43 games for the Saints.
The England international often showed his potential for the Gunners, but many fans felt that he wasn’t living up to his potential, especially in front of goal, as he scored just 20 times in 198 games for Arsenal.
Injuries also took their toll on Oxlade-Chamberlain during his time with Arsenal, and he failed to really nail down one clear position in the Arsenal side, as he featured out wide, in central midfield and even at wing back as he failed to find a place at the Emirates Stadium.
Having rejected new contract offers to stay with Arsenal, Oxlade-Chamberlain did move on at the end of the transfer window last month, making a big-money move to Liverpool – just days after the Gunners had lost 4-0 to Jurgen Klopp’s Reds at Anfield.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has been away on international duty with England since making his move, and he could now be in line for his Liverpool debut when the Reds take on Manchester City this weekend.
Now, pundit Martin Keown has offered his view on the move, telling the Daily Mail that he thinks Oxlade-Chamberlain could replace either Emre Can or Georginio Wijnaldum in the heart of the Liverpool midfield.
Keown also can’t wait to see how Jurgen Klopp attempts to develop Oxlade-Chamberlain, adding that the midfielder now has to provide an end product after only showing promise, and claims he now has no excuse but to deliver having made his big-money move to Anfield.
“I can see him playing in midfield instead of Can or Wijnaldum — but I am intrigued to see if Jurgen Klopp can make him the complete player,” said Keown. “It is no longer about promise with Oxlade-Chamberlain — it’s all about end product.”
“It was interesting watching him for England in the last two games. Whenever he had the ball, he kept trying to do the impossible. We have only ever seen 80 per cent of what Oxlade-Chamberlain is capable of. Now, he has no excuse but to deliver,” he added.
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