PREMIER LEAGUE

  

  

Returning stars can boost top-four hopes, says Oxlade-Chamberlain

Winger believes Arsenal are in buoyant mood going into the final months of the campaign

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has made 21 BPL appearances this season

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain believes Arsenal are hitting form and welcoming back key players at the perfect time for a push up the Barclays Premier League standings.

Arsene Wenger's team had an inconsistent start to the campaign. November's 2-1 defeat at home to Manchester United left Arsenal eighth in the table with 17 points from 12 matches, their worst start to a season in the BPL era.

Since then, Arsenal have won seven out of 10 league matches, including a 2-0 triumph at champions Manchester City that sends them into Sunday's televised home clash with Aston Villa in buoyant mood.

"We've got a lot to play for"
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Seven points separate Southampton in third and Liverpool in eighth, meaning the battle for UEFA Champions League qualification places is set to be tighter than ever.

Arsenal are in fifth, looking to secure a UEFA Champions League spot for an 18th consecutive year and Oxlade-Chamberlain is relishing fighting for victories across numerous competitions.

"It has been a bit of a strange up-and-down season," the 21-year-old told Arsenal Player. "There have definitely been better starts - we didn't get off to a good start - but as you look at it at the moment, we are still there or thereabouts and there is still a lot of football to be played.

"We are still in a really good place in the Champions League, still in the FA Cup and in the league it is tight at the top around the teams in third, fourth and fifth.

"Chelsea have a little lead on everyone, but in terms of football to be played it's quite exciting to think how the back end of the season could go. We've got a lot to play for and we're just focused on trying to move upwards now."

Oxlade-Chamberlain has featured in all but one of Arsenal's 22 BPL matches this season, starting 16, and has played more minutes in the competition this campaign than in any previous one since joining from Southampton in the summer of 2011.

SEASON	11/12	12/13	13/14	14/15	TOTAL
Played	16	25	14	21	76
Starts	6	11	6	16	39
Goals	2	1	2	1	6
Minutes	556	1062	523	1396	3537
Shots	12	21	11	21	65
Assists	1	3	2	1	7
Chances created	11	19	6	32	68
Crossing accuracy	15.8	12.5	20	18.3	-

Many of his midfield team-mates have been less fortunate in their availability. However, Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil scored their first goals after long injury layoffs in last weekend's 3-2 FA Cup win over Brighton & Hove Albion, while Aaron Ramsey excelled on his first start for almost six weeks at the Etihad Stadium and completed 90 minutes on Sunday.

The sight of the trio back in action enhances Oxlade-Chamberlain's belief that Arsenal have a squad to match any in England's top flight.

"You always tend to look at the squads before the game on the team sheets and ours usually seems strong," he said. "That definitely is a good thing. For a large majority of the season we have been without Mesut, and Aaron for a spell and Theo as well.

"To have those kinds of players back is only good for us, and I'm sure they'll come back and play a massive role in the rest of our season. They're massive parts of our team, big characters and obviously great players.

"They're more than welcome to come back and score as many goals as they want. I'm sure they're going to come back and contribute positively."