Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has paid tribute to the positive influence of Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger in making 2011 a year to remember for him.
The teenage star joined the Gunners from Southampton in the summer and admits that it has been an incredible 12 months.
“It’s been exciting for me this year joining Arsenal, I’ve loved every minute of it so far and I wouldn’t change a thing,” the young forward told the club’s official website.
“I enjoyed the end of last season with Southampton too so I can’t really complain about how this year has gone.
“I’m looking forward to 2012 and hopefully it can bring good things for this club and for me personally.”
The 18-year-old says that he has responded well to Wenger’s approach, with the Frenchman offering plenty of wisdom to help him reach his potential.
“The stuff he says to me, to the team, just makes so much sense,” Oxlade-Chamberlain enthused.
“It’s just little things like that you can always pick up stuff. The main thing he’s said to me is that I’ve got the ability to play at this level and it’s just how much I want it. That just sums it up for me really.
“I know I just have to keep working hard, get my head down and keep pushing to put pressure on him to select me. It’s encouraging to hear him say that to me because it’s always good advice.
“If it’s criticism, it’s always constructive and I do go away and listen.
“My relationship with him since I’ve been here has been very good, the same with Pat Rice too. I’m still young and I’m learning.”
Oxlade-Chamberlain has made six first-team appearances since leaving St Mary’s in the summer, and has scored against Shrewsbury and Olympiakos, as well as playing his first matches for England Under-21s.