Why Chelsea’s pursuit of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain makes sense
By Vishnu Raj
According to the latest reports, Chelsea have agreed a fee with Arsenal for England winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. This move is a fantastic one.
Chelsea are moving closer to sealing a deal for Arsenal’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. While some people (including one of my colleagues at The Pride Of London) don’t like the move, it makes a lot of sense. As the transfer deadline approaches, the Blues should ensure that this deal clears the final hurdles.
One of the positions at which Chelsea lack proper cover is wingback. Chelsea’s first choices throughout the last season were Marcos Alonso and Victor Moses. When they were given rest in the less important matches, Pedro, Cesar Azpilicueta and others came in as makeshift replacements.
Since Victor Moses was actually part of Chelsea’s squad for the first time in over 3 years, he was determined to show everyone that he deserves to be at Stamford Bridge. The same goes for Marcos Alonso as he was returning to the Premier League after 2 years in Italy. Being a lesser-known name compared to the other big guns in the team, he too had a point to prove.
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After thoroughly impressing last season, the objective now is to maintain the same hunger to improve and maintain the same effort levels. As is evident from the season so far, the duo seem on course to have yet another great campaign. One of the things that can help their quest is competition.
The problem with playing makeshift replacements is that it affects the depth in other areas. It can also affect the overall output of those playing in those positions due to a lack of familiarity with the role.
Oxlade-Chamberlain is capable of playing in various positions including CM, RWB, LWB, RM, LM. Fans may question how much of an upgrade he is on the players Chelsea already posses. However, if the likes of Alonso and Moses could improve tremendously under Antonio Conte, there is no doubt that Oxlade-Chamberlain can also come on leaps and bounds.
Having only one option in a position can have some negative effects on players and team performances. We have seen players like Moses having off-days once in a while and thus affecting Chelsea’s rhythm. When he knows someone is lurking behind him to snatch his spot, the frequency of those off-days will diminish. Since he is capable of playing in various positions, Oxlade-Chamberlain’s presence alerts many in the team.
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Chelsea need enough depth to fight in all 4 competitions. There is no doubt that Oxlade-Chamberlain will be a good addition if the deal goes through. Moreover, like many others, he has every chance to improve under Conte.