Arsenal Debutante Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain Attracts Attention from Fabio Capello

Despite reports of a strained calf and a slight bout with the flu, it has been a pretty good week for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Handed his first Premier League start in a 2-1 home loss against Manchester United last weekend, the 18-year-old did not disappoint.

He was one of the few bright spots during a dismal first half in which Arsenal looked more like the visiting side. During the second half, he went on to set up the Gunners' only goal when he played in a precisely angled ball to find Robin van Persie, who was making a diagonal run inside.

He was then inexplicably subbed off as a torrent of abuse hailed down on Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger for making the substitution. Among those present at the Emirates Stadium to be at least suitably impressed with the teenager, if not exactly moved to join in with the boo boys, was none other than England coach Fabio Capello.

Capello was unlikely to have been completely unfamiliar with the former Southampton player. He would no doubt have been made aware of "the Ox," as he is known amongst Arsenal supporters, by England's U-21 coach Stuart Pearce.

According to a report by The Guardian, Capello is now making plans to try the Arsenal attacker out in a friendly with an eye toward determining whether there might be a place for him in the squad for the European Championships, set to take place in Poland and Ukraine this summer.

The England manager would no doubt have been duly impressed by Oxlade-Chamberlain's tireless work ethic, penetrating runs and impressive assist to van Persie's goal. It's quite possible Capello will see the talented teenager as a potential alternative to Theo Walcott, who, despite scoring some key goals for the Gunners this season, has been subject to the kind of inconsistent form that saw him overlooked for the English World Cup squad two years ago in South Africa.

Were Oxlade-Chamberlain to be ultimately selected to appear for England, he would be following in the footsteps of his father, Mark Chamberlain, who was capped seven times for his country. England's next international friendly is scheduled to take place against the Netherlands at the end of February.