Arsenal Youngster: Gunners Can be England's Future
Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain believes the Gunners' current crop of young English stars could become an important part of the Three Lions' future.
Roy Hodgson's has included the 19-year-old in his squad to face San Marino and Montenegro in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. Chamberlain's team-mate Theo Walcott has also been called up, while Jack Wilshere missed out with injury.
Arsenal wing-backs Carl Jenkinson and Kieran Gibbs have also been on Hodgson's radar for some time and Chamberlain is confident that Arsenal's new English core will benefit the national team.
"We are all growing up together, and in similar positions with playing for a club like Arsenal and for the international team. It is good to have all that support around you, and mates too, which is the most important thing in football, the relationships with your team-mates," Chamberlain said.
"It makes it a bit more special to be able to go away with England and be with players from your club team. It will stand us in good stead for our club and also for England, because the more you play with your team-mates, growing up with them, you start to know them inside out," the youngster stressed.
All five players, along with Wales international Aaron Ramsey, had signed new long-term deals with Arsenal this season.
England are currently second in Group H, two points behind Montenegro. Chamberlain, who already has nine senior international caps to his name, is aware that there is plenty of work left before the Three Lions can confirm their place among the 32 teams who will battle it out for the title in Rio next summer.
"As a squad, we know we are not there yet and what a job we have in hand to make sure we do reach the World Cup. This nation has too many talented players not to make it, and we have to do everything in our power to get there - starting this week with two hard qualifiers when we will be out to get the right results and push on," the youngster added.
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