- Title: Arsenal FA Cup win means 'better season' - Oxlade-Chamberlain
- Date: 26th May 2017
- Summary: LONDON COLNEY, NEAR LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (MAY 26, 2017) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARSENAL MIDFIELDER, ALEX OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN, SAYING: "It makes it a better season for sure. You know, the season has been an odd one and I think if you look at the table now, I think we finished on 75 points, in other years that might have left us in different situations but times change and you've got to move forward with the other top teams and we've failed to do that in the league ultimately this year so that's why we missed out on top four. But, you know, we've given ourselves an opportunity to win a trophy and when you're in football winning trophies is what it's all about. It will obviously be a bonus to the season to finish on a more positive note. There will obviously always be that thing where we wanted to finish higher up the league and there's no doubting that and we can't hide from that and we need to own up to that but it's a big trophy and it's one that we want to win and it will definitely, definitely boost morale going into next season." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARSENAL MIDFIELDER, ALEX OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN, SAYING: "The change of formation I think came at a good time because it gave us all a new challenge because it came at a time when we were struggling and we were conceding goals. So, I think, at that point it shored us up a bit more putting three at the back and it gave teams a different challenge because I think over the years we've always played in a certain formation and a certain way and I think teams, they obviously get better at learning how to deal with us, so when we changed the formation I think that gave them something new to think about." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARSENAL MIDFIELDER, ALEX OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN, SAYING: (ON ARSENAL MANAGER ARSENE WENGER) "Obviously, first and foremost, he's been a massive influence on my career. He took me from League One into a massive club in the Premier League and Champions League and that changed my career and my future ultimately. So, in that sense, he's been a massive influence for me in helping me through my years at Arsenal, just as has many players in this squad and players before this squad. So we all respect our manager massively and we all want to give him the win as much as we want to give our fans the win."
- Embargoed: 9th June 2017 11:27
- Keywords: soccer football Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain Arsene Wenger Chelsea FA Cup Arsenal
- Location: LONDON COLNEY, NEAR LONDON, ENGLAND, UK
- City: LONDON COLNEY, NEAR LONDON, ENGLAND, UK
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA0016IH63I7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain believes a win in the FA Cup final on Saturday (May 27) would mean his side have achieved a 'better season'.
The north London side have had a mixed year with a successful run to the FA Cup final but also failure to reach the top four in the Premier League and two 5-1 losses to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
The team's form has seen rumours swirl around the future of manager Arsene Wenger, who is on course to win a third FA Cup in four years if his side can overcome Antonio Conte's champions Chelsea.
"It makes it a better season for sure. You know, the season has been an odd one and I think if you look at the table now, I think we finished on 75 points, in other years that might have left us in different situations but times change and move forward with other top teams and we've failed to do that in the league ultimately this year so that's why we missed out on top four. But, you know, we've given ourselves an opportunity to win a trophy and when you're in football winning trophies is what it's all about," said Oxlade-Chamberlain.
The 23 year-old is expected to feature in the final while a decision on Wenger's future at the club will also be made at a board meeting following the game. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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