Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Kieran Gibbs Give Arsene Wenger a Selection Poser

The EFL Cup has long been a proving ground for those on the fringes of the Arsenal squad. Several of manager Arsene Wenger’s squad players shone in the 2-0 victory over Reading, but Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Kieran Gibbs will be particularly optimistic about their chances of having earned a chance in the forthcoming Premier League match against Sunderland.

Oxlade-Chamberlain was the obvious star of the night after grabbing both Arsenal goals.

First, he drove down the right-hand side, skipping neatly outside his full-back before firing low into the far corner. Then, in the second half, his powerful shot from outside the box took a nick off a defender and flew over the stranded Reading goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi. 

Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images

That brace took his tally for the season to five, meaning this is already the highest-scoring season of Oxlade-Chamberlain’s Arsenal career. Given that we’re not yet into November, that has to be regarded as extremely promising—he has a newfound conviction in front of goal.

Oxlade-Chamberlain has always had good shooting technique, but he seemed to be nervous when presented with the opportunity to score. That anxiety has vanished and been replaced by a growing composure. 

Speaking to Arsenal.com after the game, Wenger commented on the improvement in Oxlade-Chamberlain’s finishing:

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Sometimes you felt like he didn’t deserve to score when he was in front of goal before. Now, I think he has added some belief to his finishing. Now we have hope that whenever he has the ball, something can happen. He’s powerful but he also finishes well and he’s added that to his game. That’s certainly linked with confidence, hard work in training, and he looks to be following Theo Walcott in that way.

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It’s too early to reach any definitive conclusions, but in this recent prolific spell it has felt as if something may have finally clicked for Oxlade-Chamberlain.

For too long he flattered to deceive, producing decent all-round displays that were devoid of end product. The England international has realised that to be a top player, you need to make tangible contributions to the outcome of games. He may well have begun a tantalising transition from mediocre to match-winner.

Crucially, he’s fit. One of his biggest problems in recent seasons—and one of the explanations for his low goal tallies—has been his difficulty remaining healthy. Oxlade-Chamberlain is now hurdling challenges unimpeded. He looks like a player who is finally able to trust his body.

Wenger explained to Arsenal.com:

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He is not a young player anymore, he is now 23 and at 23 you become a football player who is the finished article. Before 23, you learn your job. At 23, you become more consistent, you know what’s expected of you, you know how to deal with the pressure, with the situation, with the competition inside the squad. But he was so talented, so young. In the national team, so young. People forget that he was still a young player.

I think the quality of his concentration, of his focus, is sharper. He is more determined and he has worked a lot mentally you know, to be really focused and I think it comes out every day in training and now it is starting to come out in the games.

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Wenger speaks of Oxlade-Chamberlain emulating Theo Walcott—now the question is whether there’s room for both English flyers in the Arsenal team.

Certainly, it would be possible to accommodate one on either flank, as the Gunners did with great success in the 6-0 win over Ludogorets Razgrad in the Champions League. However, that would mean dropping Alex Iwobi.

It’s telling that despite his tender years, Iwobi did not look like one of the younger players against Reading.

Just a few months in the first team have transformed him. He now carries himself with the measured arrogance of an established senior player—and it’s a joy to watch. Playing alongside Mesut Ozil, the 20-year-old’s intelligent movement and slick passing help lubricate the Arsenal attack.

However, Iwobi is not perfect. He is still learning the defensive responsibilities associated with his left-wing role. In recent weeks, Arsenal have appeared a little vulnerable on that flank. His tendency to wander has significant attacking benefits, but it can leave Nacho Monreal exposed.

He also needs to score more goals. Iwobi was relatively efficient in front of goal in the youth teams, but he has yet to score a competitive goal for Arsenal in 2016/17.

Speaking after the Reading match, in which the Nigerian missed a presentable opportunity, Wenger told Arsenal.com:

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I think he has it all in the locker to pass and give the final ball. What you want from him now is the finishing, you know. That’s still a little part that is missing in his game. I think he is too nervous at the moment when he has the possibility to finish.

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Given the manner of his performance against Reading, Oxlade-Chamberlain must feel he has a good chance of displacing Iwobi for the trip to the Stadium of Light on Saturday. 

Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images

Alternatively, perhaps Wenger will seek to resolve Arsenal’s left-sided issue by replacing Monreal with Gibbs. The likes of Modou Barrow of Swansea City and Middlesbrough's Adama Traore have given the Spaniard a torrid time in recent weeks, and the Gunners boss may feel it’s time to pull him out of the firing line.

Gibbs was given the chance to play against both Ludogorets and Reading and has not yet put a foot wrong.

In the EFL Cup, Gibbs skippered the side and demonstrated that he is still a good option at left-back. He’s quicker than Monreal so would arguably have coped better against Traore and Barrow. Sunderland's Duncan Watmore is not quite as quick as either of those players, but he still has the speed and trickery to cause problems on the right-hand side.

Monreal has been one of Arsenal’s most consistent players over the past two years, but without Alexis Sanchez in front of him, he has struggled to carry that form into 2016/17. Football is about partnerships, and thus far Monreal and Iwobi isn’t quite clicking. 

Wenger could introduce one of Oxlade-Chamberlain or Gibbs or make a double change and include both. The Arsenal XI looked a little stale in their last Premier League outing against Middlesbrough, and this could be an effective way of freshening up the team. 

Rarely has Wenger had an Arsenal squad laced with such genuine competition for places. It’s important he respects that competitive environment and tries to maintain a meritocratic selection policy.

Based on their performances against Reading, both Oxlade-Chamberlain and Gibbs deserve a chance to prove their Premier League credentials against Sunderland.

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and will be following the club from a London base throughout 2016/17. Follow him on Twitter here.