Arsenal News: Gunners Must Give Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain Extended Run

It's been a tense time around Emirates since the summer transfer window closed. So tense that Arsene Wenger decided to use a youth-filled lineup in Arsenal's Carling Cup clash with Shrewsbury.

It worked, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain earned himself more playing time with an impressive performance.

After the Gunners fell behind 1-0, Kieran Gibbs tied the game in the 33rd minute. Oxlade-Chamberlain then hit a brilliant long-range strike to give Arsenal the lead before Yossi Benayoun closed out the scoring in the 3-1 win.

Working on the right side of midfield, the teenager was vital to the Arsenal attack all game long. To say he made his presence felt during his first start with the team would be an understatement.

Wenger praised the 18-year-old summer transfer after the match (via ESPNsoccernet).

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“We took a gamble and it worked because you could see some players that we haven't seen so much, like Oxlade-Chamberlain and [Francis] Coquelin, have done extremely well and that is positive for the future.'

“He grew through the game and became stronger and stronger. What came out was unbelievable - you didn't expect it after the first half. You could see that he will be a first-team player here, that is for sure. He has still things to work on but, very quickly, he will be knocking on the door.”

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Wenger's comments, while positive, are a bit concerning. The veteran manager makes it sound like Oxlade-Chamberlain will find himself on the bench when Arsenal host Bolton on Saturday.

Why?

The teenager showed more intensity and determination in one game than the entire starting lineup during some of Arsenal's recent losses. Would it really hurt the squad that much to let him start against Bolton and try to build off the Carling Cup performance? Doubtful.

The Gunners currently sit in 17th place—just one spot above the relegation zone—and have the league's worst goal differential. Does Wenger truly believe keeping everything the same will eventually lead to different results? Hopefully not.

Oxlade-Chamberlain will have growing pains just like any young player, and the competition in the Premier League is much stiffer than any early-round Carling Cup match, but he clearly has the talent to make things happen.

And any player who can make an offensive impact needs to be strongly considered right now.

The worst thing that could happen is he struggles to find the same playmaking ability against Bolton that he did on Tuesday. In that case you remove him from the lineup before the Champions League clash with Olympiakos.

Whatever decision is made, it has to include Oxlade-Chamberlain getting at least some playing time. Wenger can't watch a player have that type of performance then banish him back to the bench.

If Arsenal were playing well, it would be a different story. But as it stands now, the Gunners could really use Oxlade-Chamberlain's youthful exuberance in the lineup.