Arsenal FC: 4 Points of Interest Concerning Alex Chamberlain's Signing

Oxlade Chamberlain has had a well documented rise to prominence in the game. Southampton have recently been promoted to the Championship, along with League One Champions Brighton and Hove Albion. He has bewitched defences with his running, close control and change of pace. 

Arsenal have signed him for a total of 10 million pounds, with 5 million paid as a principal (on the date of the transfer), with an extra 5 million in reserve based on a performance basis. That is, if Alex Oxlade Chamberlain were to play well, 5 million pounds would be given to Southampton (Although this is a very crude description).

Arsenal Needs Him

 Alex Chamberlain is a winger. That said, Arsenal don't really play pure wingers.They play Inside Forwards, who come inside from the wing and look to dribble their way into puttinga through ball into the 18 yard box in the hope that someone will latch onto it and score a wonderful half- volley, rather than crossing it like a pure wide man (I'm not suggesting that a winger coming inside and shooting is bad, it's just not "winger" behaviour).

 This young lad seems similar to fellow former Southampton youngster Theo Walcott. He has pace, is a calm finisher ,and is lethal anywhere in the box. Like Walcott, a debate is likely to start about his best position, whether it is through the middle or out wide. What separates him from Walcott is that notwithstanding the fact that he may not be as pacy as Walcott, he has a great final ball and is  generally a better passer than  young Theo.

Anyways, Alex Chamberlain provides Arsenal more variation in attack and is a typically English midfield option. Additionally, he is a great prospect and certainly gives Arsenal depth in the mwide mifield area

Arsenal Doesn't Really Need Him

Arsenal desperately need reinforcements fro two key positions:

a) Defensive midfield: Arsenal need competition for Alex Song. When he has been injured, Wenger's replacements have been inadequate (Diaby, Frimpong).

b) Central Defense/ Left back- Kieran Gibbs and Armand Traore leave huge positional gaps when they go on attacking runs , leaving a lot of space in behind them for opponents to exploit. Furthermore, the central defense needs quite a lot of strengthening. Scqillaci is ineffectual, to say the least and Djourou is inconsistent. Vermaelen is the only good defender Arsenal have who is consistent.

Wenger's Spending Spree

Wenger, it appears has a plan. He is going to sign Oxlade Chamberlain for 10 million and make that the first signing of many, including Jagielka and Costa Rican Joel Campbell.

More Youth, Less Experience

Much has been made of the age of Wenger's team this past season. Many point to the fact that Wenger's young players have been mistake prone and suggest that experience needs to be added to the squad. Lets just say that Alex Oxlade Chamberlain isn't exactly proven Premier League talent, the kind that Arsenal needs.