Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could be ready for the European Championships in 2012.
What he said in full:
Arsène Wenger believes it would be unwise to rule out Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for a late run into England’s Euro 2012 squad.
The young winger has been sounded out as a possible ‘wildcard’ pick for the tournament in Ukraine and Poland next summer after a blistering start to life with Stuart Pearce’s Under-21s – including a hat-trick in the latest international break.
Capello has admitted that the 18-year-old is likely to be a part of his plans in the forthcoming international friendlies and Wenger thinks a place in Poland and Ukraine next summer is possible.
“I don't rule him out,” said the Arsenal manager. “That depends on his progress here. Again sometimes you are a bit too quick in England for that.
“But you cannot rule him out because he has the basic talent. In the next five, six months we will see how he adjusts to the physical intensity of the game.
“Today you cannot expect too many players to be unknown because every single big game is watched by everybody.”
Theo Walcott made headlines when he was selected for Sven-Goran Eriksson’s 2006 World Cup squad as a 17-year-old. But Wenger believes comparisons between him and Oxlade-Chamberlain are wide of the mark.
"It's difficult to say because they are different types of player,” the Frenchman said. “Theo Walcott went at 17 years of age to the World Cup and Oxlade-Chamberlain is already 18 now. They are at different stages.
“I believe that Oxlade-Chamberlain is more in the build-up of a game and Walcott has more of a striker’s mind. They are different types of players, both gifted.
“Slowly England is getting players out of the youth system that have the quality to play at a very interesting level.”
