Kieran Gibbs says Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is in the “best shape he has ever been in” and will become an even more important player for Arsenal this season.
The England midfielder has featured in all of the Gunners’ games this term, starting four times and impressing with a typically energetic performance against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday.
Oxlade-Chamberlain missed a large part of last season due to injury but, now that he is fit again, Gibbs believes the 22-year-old is ready to have his most influential campaign yet.
"Players like Alex you know can change a game"
Kieran Gibbs
“He’s in the best shape he’s ever been in physically and the more minutes he gets, the more dangerous he’s going to be,” the England defender said. “That’s what I feel he needs at the moment, more game time.
“The situations he getting into on the pitch will come more naturally to him and his goalscoring is going to be a bit like Aaron’s. At first it was difficult for Aaron to find the net but then all of a sudden it just clicks and I don’t think he’s going to stop scoring.
“You’ve got players like Alex who you know can change a game and you have to encourage him to express himself, to do whatever he can, whatever he feels is right to do, as long as the players aren’t doing the opposite to him. It’s always encouraged by us and the manager.”
Oxlade-Chamberlain against Tottenham
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