£15m Arsenal signing ‘a really exciting prospect’

Alex Oxlade Chamberlain is a chance for the Euro 2012 England squad, according to Gareth Southgate, with the FA head of elite development revealing that if the winger can increase his game time at Arsenal, he might be in with a chance for the international side.

Chamberlain made the move to the Emirates from lower league side Southampton in the summer for a reported fee of £15 million. The youngster was a big risk on Arsene Wenger's part, having never played professional football above League One before this season.

But the 18 year old has shone so far for Arsenal, and has scored two goals in five appearances for the side. One of those goals was netted on his Champions League debut, with the youngster helping the Gunners get past Olympiakos 2-1 and one step closer to qualifying for the next round of the tournament.

And Southgate has now admitted that if he continues his top form, Chamberlain will be in the firing line for selection as England prepare to take on Sweden, France, Ukraine and beyond.

"Chamberlain is one that might [make a late push], depending on how much football he gets at Arsenal between now and the end of the season," Southgate told FourFourTwo.com.

"He's had a fantastic impact in the under-21 matches I've seen him play in. He's highly versatile, yes he has predominantly played out wide but he can also come inside and cause problems for the opposition.

"He seems to have that knack of getting into the areas of the field where his team most needs that creativity. He has great pace but he can also select the right pass at the right time, he looks a really exciting prospect."

Chamberlain has followed the same path as Arsenal success story Theo Walcott, coming through the youth ranks at Southampton and then joining the north London club and being thrown straight into the action of the Champions League and Premier League.

Walcott was a risk worth taking by Wenger, with the star now credited as a big part of Robin van Persie's success with the Gunners this year, and after scoring three goals in 21 appearances for England, the 22 year old will no doubt be excited at the prospect of being joined in Poland and Ukraine by his club and countryman.