Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain Q&A
Following the launch of the new Nike Arsenal Away Kit, SoccerBible caught up with one of the Premier Leagues most exciting young players. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has shot through the Arsenal ranks in just his first season at the Club, forcing his way into the first team and becoming an England international.
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The 12/13 Arsenal away kit uses a regal colour that honours the Club's historical royal links. We asked Oxlade-Chamberlain for his thoughts on the new Arsenal away strip, his worst-dressed team mate and the pressures that come with playing for Arsenal.
What do you think of the new Arsenal Away kit? Oxlade-Chamberlain: It s always exciting to have the new kit and to do the photo-shoots for it. I think the new purple and black kit works really well - the colours go very well together. It s more of a fashionable kit than last season s and I think the younger generation of fans will like it.
Which one of your team-mates is the most fashion conscious and who has the worst taste in clothes?
OC:The most fashion conscious is probably Alex Song - I m sure you ve seen him pictured a lot in the Arsenal magazine. |
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He really likes his fashion and to be fair, I think he gets away with it. I think the player here who has the worst taste in fashion has got to be Emmanuel Frimpong - I think he just wakes up and puts anything on and doesn t look in the mirror. With me, I don t think I m that bad - I go for more safe options - I like to wear jeans and a nice hoody.
A lot of the squad are of similar age and you re clearly a close group - how much does that help you out on the pitch?
OC:The squad now is a good age group - there are a lot of young players coming through who are starting to show they can perform at the top level. We have obviously also got the older players who show their experience which is vital. There is a good mixture now, I think.
You re active on Twitter - how important is it to interact with fans?
OC:I think it is massively important - a few players from Arsenal and other top Clubs have started to get involved in it. I think it is important to get fans views from games - some of it isn t always positive but that s part of football and you have to deal with that.
I think Twitter is an important side of football now and I think it ll only get bigger and bigger in the game. A lot of players have taken to it and they are getting views from the fans which I think is massively important.
Despite your young age, you are seen as one of Arsenal s leaders on the pitch. How proud does that make you?
OC: It makes me very proud. To be a leader on the pitch is what I ve always tried to do - it is important to be a leader. It s not just me, though - we have a lot of leaders at Arsenal; Thomas Vermaelen has led from the back and Robin van Persie has led from the front, for example. To be a leader on the pitch is important and you have to show you are up for the fight.
Does playing for Arsenal - a Club with an illustrious history - increase the pressure of you and the other players to perform?
OC: There is a big pressure at this Club - it is a top Club and it has been for years. We haven t won anything for a long time and we want to win, as do the fans and it is time for us deliver. If you look back through recent history at players like Thierry Henry and Steve Bould - they always won things. We want to do that now.
SoccerBible was speaking to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain following the launch of the 2012/13 Arsenal Away Kit. Check out the kit here and let us know what you think online, on Twitter and on Facebook.
