Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain knows he must wait for his opportunity to become a first-team regular.
The 19-year-old has been in and out of Arsène Wenger’s side this season, but has started 15 games in all competitions and played 68 minutes in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Stoke City.
And while Oxlade-Chamberlain appreciates that he will not begin every game, he is focused on making the most of the chances he does get.
“I’m only 19 years of age and I’m at Arsenal Football Club,” he said. “I know I’ve got to bide my time, and maybe this is one of those times. Just to get a start was really important to me, and I know that when I get the opportunity, I’ve got to make sure I try and take it.
"I’ve got to expect to sometimes be pulled out because we’ve got so many talented players at this football club"
“It’s always nice for the confidence when you get a run of games. I had a few a couple of weeks ago, I think I played maybe five or six games on the spin and that was nice. I’ve got to expect to sometimes be pulled out because we’ve got so many talented players at this football club.
“Everybody wants to play so you’ve got to take being taken out of the team sometimes, let someone else have a go and make sure you’re ready to come off the bench and affect the games and help the team.
“I can remember last season, Robin van Persie came and spoke to me. He said ‘When I was first at the Club, I didn’t start, the boss used to take me in and out’. Look at the season he had last season, he was a key player. It was the same with Theo. You’ve got to bide your time, especially when you’re young.”
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