Arsenal Euro Watch: Oxlade-Chamberlain and Walcott Show Potential for England

"He's got skill and pace to burn, and that just brings something extra to this England squad at the moment," said commentator Tony Dorigo, assessing the performance of England's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain against Belgium on Saturday.

With the way Dorigo, a former England defender, spoke of Oxlade-Chamberlain, you might have thought the Arsenal winger had been featuring for the Three Lions for years.

As was the case, however, he was making his full debut at the tender age of 18. But perhaps, makes his performance all the more remarkable.

Dorigo had every reason to be giddy about the teenager's play. (Think about that for a moment—just how far the Ox has come in the span of nine months.)

Although he was nowhere near his captivating best—a level of production seen most frequently during the first few months of this calendar year, when he could be in a class of his own—Oxlade-Chamberlain still showed an uncanny ability to affect the match through his positioning and reading of the game.

His future position, like that of club mate Jack Wilshere, likely lies away from where he's made his break in senior team first division football.

For Wilshere, many feel he will be most effective in a role more advanced than the box-to-box "No. 6" holding creative midfield position he played so effectively with Arsenal in 2010-11.

Oxlade-Chamberlain's pace and trickery make him an easy pick for the wing, but his ability to cut inside and find that killer pass matched with his deadly finishing also line him up for a more central role. It was in playing that position, after all, that convinced England manager Roy Hodgson to take him to the Euros (via Yahoo Sports). It's not a stretch to think he could one day impact games as Steven Gerrard has done for Liverpool.

You want your most effective playmakers operating in the middle of the park—it's why Lionel Messi is granted so much freedom to roam for Barcelona, or Wayne Rooney for Manchester United.

Their managers realize that their production is unleashed best when they are at center of proceedings, and afforded total creative control.

The former Southampton winger took a page out of those two stars' books Saturday against Belgium.

Oxlade-Chamberlain started out on the left wing in Roy Hodgson's 4-4-2 formation, but with space at a premium on that particular flank, he began to push deeper into central midfield, whereupon he was able to collect passes and link up play more effectively.

It was an excellent display of comprehension from the young Englishman. Despite not being at his best—he fluffed a couple shots on goal, very unlike him—he still found a way to impact the game.

Dorigo noticed it, and Arsenal fans will take comfort in it. The Ox keeps learning and progressing. That's a very frightening proposition for opposing Premier League defenses come next season.

On to Theo Walcott

Oxlade-Chamberlain made way in the 66th minute for club mate Theo Walcott, who took up a position on the right wing.

Much has been made about those two players' similarities—they both joined Arsenal from Southampton, after all, and have that devastating natural trait of searing pace.

But it is their differences that mark them most distinctively as players, as it should be.

Walcott is an out-and-out attacker, always looking to go toward goal, whether he finds himself on the wing or in the more advanced central position he operated in at Southampton. He is at his most dangerous when he plays directly, and does not trouble himself with tricks, which often see him traipse.

Oxlade-Chamberlain, for all his pace and power, has a wonderful nuance to his game.

It was seen in that deft pass to Van Persie against Manchester United back in January, and it is glimpsed every time he is able to slip his marker and drop deep into midfield.

There's a reason his future is considered brightest in the middle of the park: He has that rare ability to influence games from any part of the pitch, not just when putting his head down and launching forward.

That being said, Walcott did produce some impressive combination play with Jermain Defoe in both players' limited time on the pitch.

There were at least two occasions where Walcott and Defoe—both placed at an advanced position, and somewhat isolated from their teammates—were tasked with stemming Belgium's incessant attack. They engaged in some lovely one-twos, one of which sent the Tottenham striker in on goal with an excellent opportunity to add to England's 1-0 lead.

It was the sort of combination play that will be expected from Walcott come next season, when he will likely take up the right winger role in Arsene Wenger's 4-2-3-1 formation.

But for now, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Walcott are focused on the Euros. If they play as they did on Saturday, they could both be in for an excellent tournament.