Forget Chamberlain, surely it’s time that Capello gave this Arsenal youngster a shot:

Despite the defeat, Arsenal showed they are a team on the up during their Carling Cup tie with Manchester City. A very decent game of football seemed to be destined for extra time until City’s lightning counter attack led to Sergio Aguero’s late winner. On possession and shots on target, extra time was the least Arsenal deserved.

It wasn’t to be. After the match one of the pundits stated that young Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could force himself into the Euro 2012 squad. Admittedly he did have a decent game last night but the argument came when the pundit claimed if he was playing regularly, Capello would have a decision to make. Well he isn’t going to displace Van Persie, Gervinho or Walcott for either of Arsenal’s front 3 positions. Assuming he starts Arsenal’s final Champions League match, there is no guarantee he will play before the 3rd round of the FA Cup. He isn’t going to get ahead of Young, Walcott, Lennon, Sturridge, Agbonlahor, Downing or Adam Johnson unless he is playing week in.

Now while the pundit on TV is no expert in my eyes, he is right to highlight Chamberlain’s potential although his name has been circulated round U18 and U21 level for a while. Whether the pundit hadn’t had a chat with his dad or not I don’t know but he missed out a young English performance in my view. One of Arsenal’s best players was the impressive Emmanuel Frimpong. I have been really impressed with him already this season and against the likes of Hargreaves and de Jong he didn’t look out of place. He has already played twice as many games as team mate Chamberlain this season.

Now I do concede that it will take a run of bad luck injury wise to propel this youngster ahead of Parker, Milner, Jones and Rodwell but personally I would put him above the likes of Gareth Barry. Yes I agree Frimpong is still rough round the edges as his sending off against Liverpool will testify but that can also be blaimed on the manager for not substituting a defensive young eager midfielder who was on a yellow card.

The big problem comes in Frimpong’s professionalism. For years football fans have slated players who play international football for a country through some distant family connection. Frimpong was born in Ghana but moved to England at a young age. He has represented England at U16 level, withdrawn from an U19 squad through injury and made the U21 squad for the matches against Azerbaijan and Israel back in August. Despite this he has always said that should Ghana come calling he would play for them. It would be interesting to see what his decision would be should he get a call from Capello early next year.

If the lad chooses to stay loyal to Ghana then you have to respect that decision. I’d rather have him in y team than have to face him. That’s now let alone in another 5 or 10 years when he is a real world beater. It’s fine to adopt tennis players, boxers, cricketers and athletes to improve our national prospets in these sports and in the past players like Owen Hargreaves have played for England when that wasn’t there first option.

What is in no doubt is to this young Arsenal stars true potential. I say first we consider him and then or the next friendly we include him into the squad. Sorry invite him into the squad. He has the choice whether to hold out for Ghana or accept England’s calling. We have to at least try rather than regret not even doing that and let it come back to haunt us.

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