Oxlade-Chamberlain – Theo will look after me at the Euros!
The Arsenal youngster Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is still pinching himself after getting a shock call-up for the England squad for this summers Euro2012 tournament, but extremely happy that the more experienced Theo Walcott will be there to show him the ropes.
“It is massive to have Theo in the squad as well,” Oxlade-Chamberlain said on the official Arsenal site. “To be named in the squad, straight away you think of everyone else there.
“I have been watching the likes of Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and John Terry for a number of years on TV and also playing for England. That only seems like yesterday and now I’m going to be going with them, it is a bit daunting but I can’t wait.
“Straight away, I thought about how good it would be having Theo there, because I have a mate! I get on well with Theo and when I first came to Arsenal he took me under his wing to help me out.
“I know Theo and I know that he went to a World Cup at 16 and enjoyed it. That obviously gives me inspiration and encouragement and I’m really looking forward to it.”
It will be a great learning experience for the 18 year-old to go to the Ukraine with the England squad, even if he doesn’t play. He is obviously going to be an integral part of the squad one day, and you never know, Hodgson may throw him on at a critical time and he may come back as an England hero!
Best holiday he could have and maybe he`ll get a bit of a run to boost his confidence for next season and come back a full international.
That’s great for his confidence. He didn’t play too many games this season, so no threat of overplaying him either.
Nice to see that with Theo, Ox and Wilshere (when fit) AFC is contributing to the national teams future.