Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain Respects Gary Neville's Honesty After Arsene Wenger Jibe

Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain bears no grudge with Sky Sports commentator Gary Neville following his criticism of Gunners manager Arsene Wenger, calling the former England defender his "favourite pundit."

Speaking at a press conference on England duty, Oxlade-Chamberlain addressed Neville's critique of Wenger's "arrogance" in failing to add enough players to his squad this summer, per the Press Association (via ESPN FC):

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When I watch Monday Night Football, I always want to listen to what he has to say and nine times out of 10 I agree with everything he does say. It's brilliant the way he explains things and he is very respectful. He's very honest -- as he is when he is away with England -- and there is nothing wrong with that.

It's credit to him because obviously it could be a tricky situation where he's talking about our games on TV and then he comes to work with England, but he seems to do it without any of us holding a grudge against him.

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The Three Lions playmaker went on to acknowledge the difficulty he faces when the two personalities clash, but he said Neville is a great influence in England training:

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I don't need to act as a peacemaker. I have heard that our manager has addressed that -- I'm sure he addressed it in a very good way -- but they are two people I highly respect.

Sometimes when we are a player short he will fill in and he doesn't hold back at all. He's still got it. It's almost like he's trying to let Roy know he's ready to play. Last time, he might have pulled a muscle so I haven't seen him since then.

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According to Oxlade-Chamberlain, Neville, who also serves as a coach in Roy Hodgson's England setup, is regarded "as one of the lads" in training irrespective of what views are expressed in his punditry.

Neville made those comments not long before Arsenal finished a summer transfer window where they were the only club in Europe's top five divisions that failed to sign a single senior outfield player.

Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

Per ESPN FC, the Frenchman has since responded to the barb, saying "everybody has his opinion," while the Gunners sit sixth in the table after winning two of their opening four Premier League games this season.

However, Wenger has since come under fresh fire after the Daily Mail's Craig Hope reported Danny Welbeck would be out until December through injury, leaving the club short on attacking resources:

Oxlade-Chamberlain would assuredly be happy to see new arrivals at the Emirates Stadium if it aided his side in launching a serious challenge on silverware, but Wenger presumably feels his assets are adequate for now.

Neville isn't the only Sky Sports pundit who feels Wenger was wrong to spend so little, however, after Paul Merson proclaimed the club's fans have been "cheated" as a result:

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It cheats the fans. The fans think 'what are we coming for? We turn up every week, we pay the highest prices and what for? Top four? We might get a day out at Wembley again in the FA Cup.' Wow-wee.

There's a saying in life: Keep on doing the things you do and you'll get the same results. How different is this season going to be for Arsenal? It's the same team that finished 12 points behind Chelsea last year. Why, this year, will this team finish above Chelsea?

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But Wenger always risked the ire of the fans in failing to make the kind of recruitment desired at a club of Arsenal's size, with FourFourTwo's Sam Pilger referencing an apt quote from none other than Neville himself:

Neville isn't just scrutinising Arsenal, though, and he recently outlined that former club Manchester United "are not title contenders," per Sky Sports.

In fact, Spanish football writer Sergi Dominguez referred to the Old Trafford icon as "the best pundit around," evidence that while any criticism of Wenger may be harsh, it doesn't necessarily make it untrue:

Oxlade-Chamberlain is caught in the midst of a debate between two of his coaching figures in the Arsenal and England camps, but the playmaker is keen to remain outside the crossfire.

Wenger knows the pressure he faces if Arsenal's lack of summer activity precipitates any drop in results, with Neville likely to be among the first to note this should that be the case.