Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain set to face Aston Villa after appearing for U-21s

Back to the fore

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain featured for the club’s Under-21 side that played Fulham at Motspur Park on Thursday.

Oxlade-Chamberlain played for 45 minutes and is expected to feature against Aston Villa at some point.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger spoke to the club’s website:

“I would have no hesitation,” the boss said. “I don’t know yet. The most important thing is that he played and came through it well. We’ll see how he is but he’s been out for five months. It takes some time to play in the Premier League.

“It’s good to have him back. But [Walcott and him] are different types of players. Oxlade-Chamberlain is a bit more of a midfielder and Walcott is more a striker type. One doesn’t compensate the other one because they are different players.”