Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain believes he is a better player for training with Steven Gerrard and would love to line up with the England captain at the World Cup.
Gerrard will lead the Three Lions in Brazil later this year, with Roy Hodgson’s men on offer at 30.00 to win the World Cup for a second time.
Not many people have given England much of a chance of upsetting the odds but there is optimism that a group of in-form youngsters might be able to surprise a few people when they take on Italy, Costa Rica and Uruguay in the group stage this summer.
Oxlade-Chamberlain is one such youngster who, if selected, would travel to South America without the baggage of previous tournament failure and with a positive attitude.
And the Arsenal wide man, who club coach Arsene Wenger feels will eventually take a more central role, hopes that the experience of training with Gerrard will aid him during the rest of his career.
“I can take so much of what he does,” he said. “That is my job – to try and get to a similar standard.
“That is easier said than done, but being able to train with him improves me as a player.”
The former Southampton man is now back in the Gunners’ first team after an injury-plagued campaign and he knows that his form over the rest of the season will determine whether or not he is on the plane to Brazil.
“It would be great to be selected for the World Cup but you have to work hard,” he added. “That means I have to keep playing well for Arsenal.”
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