Published: 23 January, 2014
by STEVE BARNETT

FIT-AGAIN Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has revealed that being underdogs in the title race could be just the fillip the Arsenal players need to give them the advantage over their rivals.

The Gunners remain top of the table after beating Fulham 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday thanks to a deadly double strike from Santi Cazorla.

Yet despite having led the way for the majority of the campaign most pundits still place Arsene Wenger’s side as their third choice to win the championship, behind Manchester City and Chelsea.

Oxlade-Chamberlain, who has just returned to action following a five-month spell on the sidelines with a knee injury, believes that such views could work in Arsenal’s favour during the second half of the season.

“When people are doubting you or saying you’re not capable of doing something, it gives you that motivation to prove them wrong,” he told Arsenal Player.

“At the same time, when you aren’t favourites you can go about your work quietly – and the most important thing is that we know what we need to do to finish where we want to finish. That’s the only thing that matters.

“The manager, the coaching staff and as a group of players, we all know what needs to be done – to keep winning games consistently. As long as we keep that togetherness and that belief in ourselves, it is up to us how well we do this year.”

Reflecting on what is being dubbed the most competitive season to date in the Premier League era, Oxlade-Chamberlain added: “It is a really tough year and you can’t see who is going to do well in terms of winning the league or who is going to go down. That is what makes it so exciting.”