Arsenal ace looks to emulate Man Utd, Liverpool and West Ham legends

Wednesday, October 10, 2012
9:03 AM

Arsenal attacker Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has targeted 100 England caps and also hopes to add trophies into the mix.

The 19-year-old is currently with the national side as they prepare for the visit of international minnows San Marino to Wembley on Friday night.

Should he play Oxlade-Chamberlain will make his eighth international appearance and after breaking into the senior side at such a young age, he hopes he can go on to emulate the likes of Peter Shilton, David Beckham, Steven Gerrard and World Cup winners Bobby Moore and Bobby Charlton.

“I want to get as many caps as I can for England, score as many goals as I can, win as many things as I can with England and Arsenal,” he said.

“Everyone would like to get to 100 caps, but that’s a massive target. If I can get close to that I will be absolutely delighted.

“I guess I could say 100 and I would be more than satisfied. I’ve got to do well on and off the pitch to get there, though.”

Oxlade-Chamberlain was called up to Roy Hodgson’s Euro 2012 squad only a year after moving from Southampton to Arsenal, and the youngster says he takes inspiration from playing and training alongside some of the country’s big stars.

He said: “Just being able to train with the boys, people like Steven Gerrard that I have grown up watching, was massive for me.

“Then to get the nod to play in the first [Euro 2012] game was unbelievable. It was massive for me.

“It was just inspirational for someone like me. I want to make sure I work hard enough to keep getting in those England squads.”