Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s career has been a pretty interesting one.
He arrived at Arsenal as a highly-rated 17-year-old in 2011 - although his debut for the club, an appearance in the 8-2 defeat to Manchester United, was one to forget - and regularly produced exciting moments.
Robin van Persie was so excited about Oxlade-Chamberlain that he referred to him as Arsenal’s version of Wayne Rooney.
“Alex can have a big impact. He has everything you need, I’m sure he has a bright future for Arsenal and England,” Van Persie said in 2012, per The Sun.
“He has pace, he is clever, knows when to pass, when to keep the ball and has
good technique.
“He’s a bit like Rooney, who I rate highly.”
Oxlade-Chamberlain's career hasn't taken off
Fast forward five years and it’s easy to feel like we’ve never truly seen the best of Oxlade-Chamberlain.
He never developed into a difference-maker at the Emirates Stadium and would end up signing for Liverpool this past summer.
He’s having to work himself up at Anfield, starting just one league match for Jurgen Klopp’s side, but his goal in the 4-1 win over West Ham on Saturday was an indication that the Ox is ready to fight for a spot in the starting line-up.
The Ox on the most embarrassing moment of his career
Oxlade-Chamberlain will never forget the opportunity Arsenal gave him to play in the Premier League and the 24-year-old remembered a moment in an Arsenal shirt as he recalled the most embarrassing moment of his football career.
Arsenal fans certainly haven’t forgotten about it. It came on March 22, 2014, when Oxlade-Chamberlain saved a shot against Chelsea with his hand - only for referee Andre Marriner to send off Kieran Gibbs instead.
“I thought I was [Gianluigi] Buffon in goal at Stamford Bridge and I tipped the ball around the post. Then Kieran Gibbs got sent off instead of me,” Oxlade-Chamberlain said.
“I went to the referee to try and tell him it was me but it was mistaken identity. He didn’t want to know.
“That was pretty embarrassing.”
Not as embarrassing as it was for Marriner.