Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is revelling under the responsibility placed on him at Arsenal, with a regular role secured quicker than anyone expected.
Gunners starlet already feels comfortable as a first-team regular
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is revelling under the responsibility placed on him at Arsenal, with a regular role secured quicker than anyone expected.
The 18-year-old was drafted in from Southampton last summer with one eye on the future.
The Gunners were eager to acquire his services, and spent big to lure him to London, but were always prepared to give him time to settle in the top tier.
As it happens, the youngster has wasted little time in finding his feet and is already considered to be a key performer in the senior set-up.
He has been entrusted with a starting role in some of Arsenal's biggest games this season and is being touted as a leading candidate for a place in England's Euro 2012 squad.
Oxlade-Chamberlain continues to take everything in his stride, though, and claims to thrive under the scrutiny he suddenly finds himself under.
Comfortable
"I've played so many games of football now and even though it is at a higher level, at the end of the day football is football. You are just playing with better players," he told Arsenal's
official website.
"As soon as you feel comfortable and confident you just carry on as normal. I felt comfortable in the Manchester United game because I thought we came out in the second half and played really well.
"Playing in a team like Arsenal helps massively, having all of these players around you giving you advice. When they are playing well, you feel comfortable and it helps you to play well too.
"I can learn from all of them. I look at Theo (Walcott), Gervinho and Robin (van Persie) as the three main attacking players and more recently I have been watching Tomas Rosicky because he's been outstanding.
"Robin has taken most of the headlines, and rightfully so with all of his fantastic goals, but quietly I think Tomas has been playing absolutely amazing."
