Newcastle United did crumble like a house of cards in the Premier League last season but their demotion to the Championship didn’t eradicate their willingness to get back to the pinnacle of English football. Rafael Benitez has knitted a team which has indeed looked hungry and willing to succeed and the results have thus gone in their stride more often than not.
The Magpies are placed 2nd on the Championship table with 84 points from 41 league outings and are 6 points ahead of Huddersfield Town, although the latter do have a game in their hand. With a top two finish, Benitez & Co. would be directly promoted to the top tier and without any shadow of a doubt, St. James’ Park would erupt in elation on the achievement of the same.
However, the former Real Madrid boss is familiar with the animosity which the Premier League offers on its tray and he would need to pull off some spectacular signings in the summer transfer window. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could possibly be one of the big money signings need to embark upon. The English international is short of game time under his belt and should personally be looking for new adventures.
So far this campaign, Chamberlain has been handed 24 appearances by Arsene Wenger, half of which have been cameos from the bench. However, he has bagged 2 goals and registered 5 assists to his name, and with the Premier League experience he has piled up and the calibre he possesses, Benitez would be more than satisfied to sign him in the summer.
The 23-year-old is a versatile player who could play on either wing as well as through the middle. With pace and shrewd movements with the ball being his strongest suits, Chamberlain loves to cut inside from the wings and have a shy at the goal many a time. He is a fine dribbler and has a touch of trickery to completely rattle even the most stubborn defences in a matter of seconds.
Arsenal clinched a comprehensive 3-0 win over West Ham United in the last fixture, in which the pairing of Mohamed Elneny and Granit Xhaka particularly pleased Monsieur Wenger. The Frenchman has hinted that he might be persistent with the duo, which implies that the former Southampton star might be used only as a deputy.
At this stage of his career, he needs to get games regularly and frankly speaking, his pace, tenacity and willingness to better himself make him a compelling player to have for club like the Toons. Further, considering the plethora of stars in Arsenal’s midfield, Chamberlain’s move to Newcastle United should benefit all the parties involved.
Statistics Credits: Squawka
