A rare Premier League start for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain but another solid performance.
The forward completed the most take-ons out of any other player: six out of nine. The second most in the Premier League next to Southampton’s Sofiane Boufal (10).
This is brilliant since the Ox is known for running at defences but, in recent years, those runs have usually ended in him being dispossessed or him becoming frustrated and wasteful. The fact that he’s now completing more than any one else shows that he’s growing in confidence, the main ingredient he’s been lacking.
Not only this but his goal (and assist) should do wonders for him.
Only Sofiane Boufal (10) won more take-ons than Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (6) in the Premier League today.
Ox stats – https://t.co/Kc1Rza4gr5 pic.twitter.com/2ImKADyo9R
— Rory Briggs (@RWABriggs) December 3, 2016
The 23-year-old has now scored six in all competitions so far this season and also got five assists. Last season, he only got two of each. This isn’t just a slight improvement – this is huge.
#afc most goals & assists this season (all comps):
Alexis 19 (13G, 6A)
Özil 12 (8G, 4A)
Walcott 11 (9G, 2A)
Oxlade-Chamberlain 11 (6G, 5A) pic.twitter.com/tz2f1pgstE— afcstuff (@afcstuff) December 3, 2016
Hopefully, he’ll continue to get rewarded for his good work by getting more starts and he manages to stay fit in order to keep improving.
I’ve been sceptical about the Ox for a while but I’m glad he’s proving me wrong.