Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain hits back after Arsenal accused of ‘selfie and six

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has led Arsenal’s response to jibes from Roy Keane that his team are more interested in selfies and six-packs than winning titles.

Yet Oxlade-Chamberlain has suggested Keane’s criticisms were misplaced, as the 21-year-old who scored the winning goal in Sunday’s Community Shield match against Chelsea at Wembley offered this stout defence of the Arsenal squad.

Chelsea FC captain John Terry has said that their defeat to Arsenal in Sunday’s Community Shield could serve as “a wake-up call” for the champions as they prepare to defend their Premier League title.

However, Oxlade-Chamberlain, whose 24th-minute strike was enough for Wenger to end his 13-match winless streak against Jose Mourinho, does not believe that such social media use in the modern age is indicative of a lack of seriousness or professional desire.

He said: “It is a new era, isn’t it? Some people do it, some don’t”, he said of the selfie habit.

“We’re serious about winning trophies”.

“We’ve the same thing every year”, said Keane, when asked about Arsenal’s chances of winning their first league title for 12 years. You can see that on the pitch, throughout the season.

“A lot of people don’t see how upset and disappointed we are when we lose and go through tough times. Since I’ve been here we’ve steadily got better at that, especially past year”.

“They have got good players, really good players, it’s just that one or two of them are more interested in selfies and six-packs”. “They appear to be a driven bunch and, if they can keep Diego Costa fit [and] keep their wits about them, then it’s hard to look elsewhere”. “We’ve had the highs together and that always helps – and we’ve suffered some upsets as a team as well, and we’ve learned from those. We can’t get too carried away”.

“It’s important we can compete with those teams and we’ve always got to try to go one better and win“. He has the winning mentality and can only help us.

Oxlade-Chamberlain’s goal and fine performance came after last season was interrupted by injury. “Fingers crossed I have better luck this season”. I believe we’re all at a good level physically.

“They (Chelsea) have shown it, and we have to step up and do more than last season, so that is the question for us”.