Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain willing to be patient for Arsenal run

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain insists that he has no problem waiting for regular first-team opportunities at Arsenal.

The 19-year-old England international has failed to hold down a regular spot in Arsene Wenger’s side this term, making 15 starts for the Gunners in all competitions.

The Southampton youth product earned plenty of new admirers last season after an impressive run of form earned him a call-up to Roy Hodgson’s Euro 2012 squad.

But the teenager insists he is willing to “bide his time” as he bids to earn a regular spot in the Arsenal first-team.

“I’m only 19 years of age and I’m at Arsenal Football Club,” Oxlade-Chamberlain told Arsenal’s website. “I know I’ve got to bide my time, and maybe this is one of those times.

“Just to get a start was really important to me, and I know that when I get the opportunity, I’ve got to make sure I try and take it.

“It’s always nice for the confidence when you get a run of games. I had a few a couple of weeks ago, I think I played maybe five or six games on the spin and that was nice. I’ve got to expect to sometimes be pulled out because we’ve got so many talented players at this football club.

“Everybody wants to play so you’ve got to take being taken out of the team sometimes, let someone else have a go and make sure you’re ready to come off the bench and affect the games and help the team.

“I can remember last season, Robin van Persie came and spoke to me. He said ‘When I was first at the Club, I didn’t start, the boss used to take me in and out’. Look at the season he had last season, he was a key player.

“It was the same with Theo. You’ve got to bide your time, especially when you’re young.”