Oxlade-Chamberlain desperate to help

Arsenal's man of the moment, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has spoken about his first North London Derby and how excited he is to help the team.

On Wednesday, he became the youngest Englishman to score in the Champions League, scoring only eight minutes into his debut against Olympiacos, and wants to carry his rich vein of form into the hotly contested North London Derby against Tottenham.

This will be Alex's first experience of what a derby match is like and he is very excited to be a part of it.

In an interview to the club's official website he mentioned, "The closest I got to [a derby] was Southampton vs Bournemouth but I think that was more of a derby for Bournemouth rather than Southampton fans,"

"I obviously haven't been involved in a north London derby yet but the boys have all been telling me what a massive occasion it is.

"Just to be involved in the squad in any game, I am honoured to do that. If I am on the bench or in the starting line-up, I’ll just be happy to be there and I’ll give my all to help the boys out and try and get another win to build on our momentum."

'The Ox', as he is passionately referred to by Arsenal fans, was taken aback by the intensity of the last year's trip to White Hart Lane and feels that he has yet a lot to learn.

"The game last season was fantastic - I was at home watching it on TV. I think that epitomises the derby so it's going to be exciting," he said.

"I have heard the boys say it’s a hostile environment [at White Hart Lane] but it’s a new challenge for me. I am just going to keep taking it all in my stride and keep learning from everything I see."

The Arsenal man is not short of confidence and feels that he will have a sizeable contribution to make in what already seems like a year to forget for Arsenal.

"I have got confidence in my ability to do that and I think one of the main things with me is that I am going to learn by getting more game time," he said.

"I know that isn’t going to come easily but over this season, next season and the one after I am just going to build on it and work hard and train.

"I am always learning things from the boys in training because they are quality players and that’s it for me. Getting stronger and fitter by playing games is only going to help me."

His two goals in two games and his emergence from the Southampton youth system, have made fans and pundits all over the world draw comparisons between him and teammate Theo Walcott. However, Oxlade-Chamberlain was quick to dismiss that he was out to get Walcott's position in the starting XI and instead spoke about how his teammate has helped him settle in.

"I sit next to Theo in the dressing room and he has helped me along, especially when I came in as a new, young lad," he said.

"He knew how I felt coming from Southampton. But it's not just Theo, its all the boys who have been helping me out. I have been watching Theo because I have been playing on the wing at the moment and I am just trying to take from his game and learn from the stuff he does.



"You are all mates off the pitch but on it you are all competing for places. I think that only makes a healthier squad – more players fighting for positions can only mean everyone has got to step their game up.

"It’ll be very hard for me to get Theo’s position or anyone else’s in this team but I am up for the challenge and I am going to keep learning off them every day and working hard."