Let me be the new Song

CENTRE SPOT ... Arsenal's Ox is ready for new role

HE has already replaced Wayne Rooney on the cover of one of the country’s most popular computer games.

Now Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain says he is ready to take over from Alex Song as the kingpin of Arsenal’s midfield — by becoming the Emirates’ very own version of Steven Gerrard.

Song became the latest big name to quit the Gunners when he joined Barcelona in a shock £15million switch this week.

But wideboy Oxlade-Chamberlain reckons he has what it takes to step inside and move into the Cameroon star’s role in the centre of the park.

England’s emerging teen sensation said: “They are big shoes to fill but you’ve got that anywhere at Arsenal. In any position you’ve got a big role to play and big shoes to fill. You only have to look back at the Invincibles and the team that won the league — they are massive shoes to fill for us.

“Whenever you’re playing on the pitch you have to step up to the plate and perform.

“Alex Song was a great player for us and he was a big player for us — but we’ve got a strong enough squad. I’m definitely confident of that and I’m definitely confident of filling Alex’s role.”

Oxlade-Chamberlain, who turned 19 this month, has only been at Arsenal for 12 months but is fast becoming one of the hottest names in English football.

So much so that he has knocked his Three Lions team-mate Rooney off the front of FIFA 13.

The Ox admits he plays himself as a striker whenever he plays the popular computer game. And now he is ready to switch positions in real life for the Gunners — by converting to central midfield on a permanent basis following Song’s exit.

The son of ex-England wideman Mark Chamberlain was a winger when he arrived at Arsenal from Southampton in a £15m switch last August.

But Gunners boss Arsene Wenger was already viewing the powerful youngster as a future middleman.

The Ox, speaking as he was unveiled as the face of EA SPORTS FIFA 13, revealed: “I remember on the day I actually signed he asked me where I saw myself playing.

“My dad was in the room and said ‘Centre mid, he’s a midfielder’.

“The boss sort of laughed and said ‘I think he could be as well’. He said maybe to start off with I would be out wide and last season I did play the majority of my games on the wing.

“But the boss has been pushing more this season to try my hand in a more central position.

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