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Oxlade-Chamberlain tipped for England spot

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain receives the plaudits © Getty Images

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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain marked his European debut with a goal and promised there was more to come after Arsenal's 2-1 win over Olympiacos, drawing Arsenal assistant manager Pat Rice to declare the youngster will soon make his England bow.

Oxlade-Chamberlain,18, scored the opener at the Emirates, with Andre Santos adding another, before David Fuster made for a tense finish. But the performance of Oxlade-Chamberlain, who was playing for Southampton in League One last season, provided the main talking point.

"It was a really good experience,'' he told Sky Sports. "It's a big step up, but I want to play at the top level and I have plenty more time to play in the Champions League. It's my first time in the Champions League and I'm glad we've achieved three points.''

Rice believes the youngster can now follow in the footsteps of England winger Theo Walcott, out injured for the match, to play a big role for both club and country in the years ahead.

"From Arsenal supporters' point of view, they are going to be seeing a lot of this boy,'' Rice said. "He has a big, big challenge to now get in front of Theo. I know that Theo is a very strong-willed guy as well and he won't give in easy. It all bodes well for England anyway.

"Alex can go inside, he can go outside, he's got that injection of pace and I think what he needs now is to be consistent in his play. I am sure that is something he will be working on because he's certainly not a stupid boy.

"He has good people around him and they are telling him all the right things. Alex is very friendly with Theo and no doubt he will give him the benefit of his experience as well.''

However, whether or not Oxlade-Chamberlain and Walcott can play in the same side, for club or country, remains a point of contention. "What you have to do is see whether the two of them can compliment each other - that is something I don't know, the manager does not know and the England manager does not know either because we have not seen them together.

"You can think as much as you like, but until it actually happens you are only formulating an opinion of your own. All good players can play together," said Rice.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.