Arsenal progressed into the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup with a 2-0 win over Championship Reading on Tuesday night. As is now the custom for Arsenal in the EFL Cup, boss Arsene Wenger made a raft of changes to his starting line-up.
The likes of Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott were given the night off. One of the fringe players needed to step up to the plate. One did in England international midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who was the star of the show with an influential display, topped off by two goals.
The former Southampton star has found it hard to feature on a regular basis in the Premier League of late. The midfielder is now behind the likes of Alex Iwobi, Theo Walcott, Ozil and Sanchez in the pecking order for the attacking midfield roles.
However, his display against the Royals may just have given boss Wenger food for thought for this weekend’s trip to strugglers Sunderland. Oxlade-Chamberlain has always been regarded as a player with lots of talent but has seemed to lack confidence at times in Premier League games.
Some have questioned whether he will ever be good enough to feature in the Gunners first team on a regular basis. However, he has the ability on his day to take the game by the scruff of the neck, as he proved against Championship opposition.
A couple of years ago the midfielder was regarded as one of England’s brightest young players. However, he has struggled to fulfil his potential, partly due to being hampered by injuries. When he has played he has struggled for consistency, though.
Maybe Oxlade-Chamberlain’s influential display against the Royals will remind boss Wenger just what he can do when on song. The midfielder needs to break into the Gunners first team soon or risk failing to fulfil his early potential.