BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY Alexander Mark David "Alex" Oxlade-Chamberlain (born 15 August 1993) is an English footballer who plays for Arsenaland the England national football team as a winger.
After rising to prominence with Southampton during the 2010–11 season aged just 17, he signed for Arsenal in August 2011. Scoring twice in his first three games for the club, Oxlade-Chamberlain became the youngest English goal scorer in UEFA Champions League history and has also claimed a regular place in the England Under-21s team. Fans have nicknamed Oxlade-Chamberlain "The Ox", derived from the first part of his surname, "Oxlade", as well as his physical tenacity and powerful playing style.[3]
Oxlade-Chamberlain made his debut for the senior England side on 26 May 2012 in a 1–0 win against Norway in a friendly.[4] Following this, he received a surprise call-up to the England squad for UEFA Euro 2012, becoming the second youngest player ever to represent England in the European Championships behind Wayne Rooney.
Early life
Born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, Oxlade-Chamberlain attended the independent St John's College in Southsea, Portsmouth.
Club career
Southampton
Oxlade-Chamberlin joined the Southampton Academy at the age of seven and made his professional debut in 2010. On 2 March 2010, he made hisfirst team debut for Southampton, at 16 years 199 days, coming off the bench in a 5–0 victory over Huddersfield Town[6] and became the club's second youngest ever appearance maker behind Theo Walcott.[7] Oxlade-Chamberlain appeared as an 82nd minute substitute for Jason Puncheonon 8 May 2010 in the final game of the season against Southend United.[8] At the beginning of the 2010–11 season, Oxlade-Chamberlain made his first competitive start on 10 August against Bournemouth in the first round of the League Cup. During the match he scored the second goal of Southampton's 2–0 victory, his first senior goal.[9] At the age of 15, Alex was nearly released by Southampton.
On 20 August 2010, shortly after his 17th birthday, Oxlade-Chamberlain signed his first professional contract lasting for three years.[10] His first league start came in a 2–0 loss at home toRochdale on 4 September 2010. His first league goal came in a 2–1 victory over Oldham on 23 October 2010, which proved to be the match winner, and he scored two more goals and also got an assist in a 4–0 win over Dagenham & Redbridge on 2 November 2010, when he was voted Man of the Match in a league game for the first time.[11]
Oxlade-Chamberlain finished the season with 9 goals as Southampton were promoted, and was named in the PFA League One Team of the Year for the 2010–11 season.[12] He was subsequently the subject of transfer speculation and in June his father, Mark Chamberlain, stated he was eager for his son to join Arsenal "as soon as possible" to "continue his development".
Arsenal
On 8 August 2011 it was announced that Oxlade-Chamberlain had signed for Premier League club Arsenal.[13] Although neither club involved revealed details of the contractual arrangements, press sources indicated that the fee was a £12 million initial payment which could rise to £15 million with "add-ons".[14][15]
On 28 August 2011, he made his Arsenal debut in the 8–2 defeat away to Manchester United, as a 62nd minute substitute for Francis Coquelin,[16] thus becoming the 150th player to represent Arsenal in the Premier League.[17] On 20 September 2011, Oxlade-Chamberlain scored his first goal for Arsenal in the 58th minute of a League Cup match against Shrewsbury Town, with a drive from 25 yards. Arsenal won 3–1.[18]
On 28 September 2011, Oxlade-Chamberlain scored the opening goal in the eighth minute of his Champions League debut against Greek side Olympiacos, running diagonally onto an Alex Song long pass and past several defenders before finishing into the corner of the goal. In doing so, he became the youngest Englishman to score in the Champions League, taking over from teammate Theo Walcott.[19]
Oxlade-Chamberlain started his first Premier League match for Arsenal in a 2–1 defeat to Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium on 22 January 2012, contributing an assist to a Robin van Persie goal. Arsène Wenger replaced him with Andrei Arshavin in the 78th minute with the Arsenal fans booing the decision to take Chamberlain off.[20] On 4 February 2012, Oxlade-Chamberlain celebrated his first two Premier League goals in a home game againstBlackburn Rovers which finished in a 7–1 victory to Arsenal.[21] Following this match, Wenger praised Oxlade-Chamberlain for his fast development.
After the second leg of the Champions League second round against A.C. Milan, Oxlade-Chamberlain earned many plaudits for his impressive run of form, and for his display against strong European opposition; he was described by Marco van Basten as a 'gem',[22] whilst then Arsenal captain Robin van Persiestated Oxlade-Chamberlain was the future of Arsenal and England.[23]
At the end of his first season in the Premier League, Oxlade-Chamberlain was nominated for PFA Young Player of the Year; he was the youngest player on the shortlist and he eventually lost out to Tottenham Hotspur's Kyle Walker, four years his senior.[24]
2012–13 season
Oxlade-Chamberlain scored his first goal of the 2012–13 season from 25 yards out in a 6–1 home victory over Coventry City in the League Cup.[25]
On 19 December 2012, it was announced that Oxlade-Chamberlain, along with teammates Aaron Ramsey, Kieran Gibbs, Jack Wilshere and Carl Jenkinson, signed a new long term contract with Arsenal.[26] Oxlade-Chamberlain scored his only Premier League goal of the 2012–13 season in a 7–3 home win against Newcastle United.
2013–14 season
On the opening day of the 2013–14 season, Oxlade-Chamberlain assisted Olivier Giroud's goal in a 3–1 defeat at home to Aston Villa,[28] however he came off injured and it was later revealed he would be out for between six weeks and three months, missing England's remaining World Cup qualifiers against Poland and Montenegro.[29]
Despite not playing for Arsenal since picking up the injury, Chamberlain was still nominated for the Golden Boy Award 2013 in recognition of his performances earlier in the year for England and Arsenal. [30]
On 2 February, Oxlade-Chamberlain scored his first two goals of the season with a brace in Arsenal's 2-0 win over Crystal Palace.[31]
International career
England Juniors
Oxlade-Chamberlain was called up to England Under-18 squad for the match against Poland which took place on 16 November 2010 at Adams Park.[32] England won the match 3–0 and Oxlade-Chamberlain played the first 45 minutes before he was substituted.[33]
England Under-21
He was called up to the England Under-19 squad to face Germany on 8 February 2011,[34] but on 2 February he was promoted into the England Under-21 side for a friendly match away to Italy on 8 February.[35] In the match, he came on as a 60th minute substitute, replacing Henri Lansbury. Shortly after his introduction, he showed a great turn of pace to create a chance as he raced past the Italian full-back and hit the byline, but no England player could reach his cross. In turn, he had a chance from a cross by Josh McEachran, but could only hit a weak shot at the goalkeeper. England lost the match 1–0 with the Italians scoring from a penalty two minutes from time.[36]
Oxlade-Chamberlain made his first start for the Under-21s against Azerbaijan on 1 September 2011 and claimed two assists in a lively performance.[37] He also made an impressive cameo performance against Israel on 5 September, coming on in the second half to claim three assists (including winning a penalty) to push England from a 1–0 deficit to an impressive 4–1 comeback victory.[38] A month later he scored a hat-trick against Iceland as England won 3–0 in Reykjavik.[39] On 10 November 2011, Chamberlain put in another man of the match performance as The Young Lions again trounced Iceland, this time 5–0, to remain top of Group 8. On 29 February 2012, he netted a late penalty as England U21 made certain of at least a play-off spot for the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship with a 4–0 victory over Belgium.[40]
Senior team
Euro 2012
On 16 May 2012, Oxlade-Chamberlain was called up to the 23-man senior England national football team squad for UEFA Euro 2012, to be held in Poland and Ukraine.[41] He made his debut for the senior England side on 26 May 2012 in a 1–0 win against Norway in a warm-up game, coming on as a substitute for Ashley Young in the second half.[4] He made his first senior start for England on 2 June playing 66 minutes before being replaced by Theo Walcott in a 1–0 win against Belgium at Wembley, another warm-up game, and England's final game before the tournament.[42] On 11 June, he made his major international tournament debut when he started in England's opening game of the UEFA Euro 2012 tournament against France.[43]
World Cup 2014 qualifiers
On 12 October 2012, Oxlade-Chamberlain scored his first senior international goal, in a 5–0 victory over San Marino.[44] He scored again in the return match against San Marino on 22 March 2013, which England won 8–0.[45]
On 2 June, he scored against Brazil in the official opening of the refurbished Maracanã stadium, with the game finishing 2–2. He came on as a second-half substitute and scored on a half-volley to bring the score to 1–1.[46][47] It was later revealed that his dad Mark, who had played for England in 1984 when England last beat Brazil at the Maracanã, had missed his son's goal due to falling asleep.[48]
Personal life
Oxlade-Chamberlain is the son of former Stoke City, Portsmouth, Sheffield Wednesday and England international player Mark Chamberlain.[49] His uncle, Neville Chamberlain, was also a professional footballer.
Oxlade-Chamberlain attended St John's College, Portsmouth. The Sun revealed that Oxlade-Chamberlain nearly chose rugby union over football when he was offered a trial at London Irish. Oxlade-Chamberlain played rugby as a scrum half or full back.
My senior school didn't play football. It was a rugby and cricket school and as I was on a sports scholarship, I was forced to play rugby. I played scrum-half or full-back and I was all right at it. I got a trial for London Irish but couldn't do it because Southampton wouldn't let me.
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