ALEX GETS SMART IN FIGHT FOR CUP FINAL
OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN STUDIES DANI ALVES IN BID TO TAKE BELLERIN’S ARSENAL PLACE
Arsenal star Alex OxladeChamberlain has been studying Brazilian wingback Dani Alves in a bid to earn a starting spot in tomorrow’s Emirates FA Cup final against Chelsea.
Oxlade-Chamberlain is fighting Hector Bellerin for what is likely to be the rightsided role in the 3-4-2-1 formation that has proven key to the Gunners’ resurgence in recent weeks.
His pace and athleticism make him a natural fit in that position, but he trails Bellerin in terms of experience there, having spent most of his career either in central midfield or further forward on the flanks.
To adapt to the defensive responsibilities required, Oxlade-Chamberlain said he has been watching his fellow wing-backs at work, including 34-year-old ex-Barcelona star Alves at Juventus.
“When I’ve watched teams that play with five at the back and wing-backs, I’ve looked at their starting positions and positions out of possession because that comes a little bit more unnaturally to me,” OxladeChamberlain said.
“I take note of anyone when they play.
“Tottenham play with that formation, Chelsea play with that formation. There’s a lot of teams who have played with that formation, so I watch all the full backs, the left back, the right back.
“There’s nobody in particular that springs to mind.
“When I’ve watched Dani Alves recently, he might not play the five at the back, but the way he plays, he marches on and he adds a lot in an attacking sense as well as defensively. Players like that, you watch and you learn from them.”
Oxlade-Chamberlain looked to have made the wing-back role his own when he made five starts out of six towards the end of April, but his momentum was checked by a hamstring injury, sustained against former club Southampton two weeks ago.
He returned to training this week and is determined to contribute at Wembley, having missed Arsenal’s FA Cup triumph completely in 2014 and come on only as a late sub when they lifted the trophy again 12 months later, each time due to injury. “It’s a bit of a trend. When it happened (this year), I thought, ‘Oh no, here we go again’,” Oxlade-Chamberlain said.
Arsenal are hoping a surprise win over Chelsea, who are going for a league and cup double, can help to reduce the disappointment of failing to finish inside the top four for the first time since 1996.
“The season’s been an odd one,” Oxlade-Chamberlain said.
“When you’re in football, winning trophies is what it’s all about. It will obviously be a bonus this season to finish on a more positive note.
“There will obviously be that feeling of wanting to finish higher up the league.
“There’s no doubting that and we can’t hide from it. We need to own up to that.
“But it’s a big trophy, one that we want to win and it will definitely boost morale going into next season.”
Victory would also make Gunners boss Arsene Wenger – yet to confirm if he will stay on next season – the most successful manager in the competition’s history by moving him one ahead of George Ramsay’s record six FA Cup triumphs.