Oxlade-Chamberlain is a good footballer.
Stuart Pearce\’s boys were rubbish in the first half at Barnsley, and Israel scored a nice goal after a slick breakaway, when Klibart curled in a lovely left foot shot.
Israel led 1-0 at half-time but sub Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain turned the game upside down by creating all four goals.
He flighted a perfect right wing cross for Hull\’s Martin Waghorn to head the equaliser at the far post.
He made a crossfield dribble, found Watford centre forward Marvin Sordell, then ran behind the defence looking for a one-two. Instead of making the return pass, Sordell suddenly spun round and smashed a left-foot thunderbolt from 30 yards.The shot went in off the post for 2-1.
Then AOC beat two defenders before a third flattened him in the box. Nathan Delfounso slotted the penalty for 3-1 in 83 minutes
Then he zoomed to the bye-line and cut back a perfect cross towards Delfounso and saw sub Henri Lansbury get there first, mis-control the ball, and then blast home a near post shot for 4-1.
A decent friendly work-out for both sides.
This was the first time I\’ve seen Oxlade- Chamberlain play.
I never write about a young footballer till I’ve seen him play.That’s one of my Golden Rules on ANR.
He\’s a far better footballer than his father ever was, and more constructive than Theo Walcott at the same age.
Brainy players with pace are quite rare. AOC is a brainy player with pace and a range of skills. He might become the best all-round wide player we’ve had since my old mate Darren Anderton.
With a bit of luck, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will join Rooney in the senior team within two years.