Published: 9 February, 2012
by STEVE BARNETT

FAR from getting carried away by his performance against Blackburn on Saturday, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain insists he is more than happy to play the waiting game and learn all he can from his team-mates.

The Ox-in-the-Box grabbed two well-taken goals at the Emirates as Arsenal demolished Rovers 7-1 to net their first Premier League win of 2012.

While the 18-year-old admits he is delighted to be playing alongside the likes of Robin van Persie and Thierry Henry, he is refusing to let all the plaudits go to his head.

“I’m one of the least experienced players in the squad so any player who gives me a comment always helps me, whether it is positive or constructive criticism,” he said. “I listen to everybody.

“People like Thierry and Robin who score goals and are attacking players like myself, you can always learn a lot from them.

“That’s all I do, I listen and learn.

“I have belief in myself and in my own ability. I just know that I have to keep working hard and learn off the boys, and then hopefully the rest will come. At the moment it’s going quite well for me so I’m just going to keep working hard.”

Meanwhile ahead of Saturday’s tough trip to Sunderland, manager Arsene Wenger is calling for “exceptional consistency” to ensure the Gunners recover from their stuttering form this season to claim a top-four finish.

With games running out fast the Gunners find themselves three points off a qualifying place for next season’s Champions League, with Chelsea, Newcastle and Liverpool all mounting a strong challenge.

“We still have real hope that we can finish the season the strongest,” Wenger said.

“We have a good spirit and desire within the group – and we have quality.

“We know that with the position we are in we need an exceptional consistency, so that is the challenge we have in front of us at Sunderland.”