Injury boost as Arsenal's Ox trains ahead of Watford clash

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been out of action since a collision with Javier Mascherano during our 2-0 Champions League loss against Barcelona, but looks to be nearing a return to the team.

He recently posted this picture up on his Instagram account, showing him working hard in the gym. He’s clearly on his way back, and hopefully this is a sign he’s close to full fitness.

The Ox has been incredibly inconsistent this season, as per usual. We’ve still missed him a little during his absence though, as we have a host of other injuries to contend with at the same time.

We arguably could have used him in a central role on a couple of occasions, and it will be great to have him back as an option before the end of the campaign. He’ll also be looking to try and earn a place in Roy Hodgson’s England squad ahead of the Euros this summer, although that’s looking increasingly unlikely.

We also need him to get some regular game time under his belt without suffering a fresh injury, as his development is being severely stunted by consistently being sidelined.

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The 22-year-old has phenomenal potential, but he is never going to realise that potential unless he can not only overcome his injury problems, but also do something about the mental blocks he seems to have. He seems to freeze up every time he’s in a good position, and when he should be scoring with ease or laying it on a plate for a teammate, instead he fires tamely at the keeper or blazes a cross into row z.

It would be a shame to see him fail at Arsenal, but unless something changes that’s the path he’s heading down.