Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain Quotes

Kids are learning to play. That's why we're seeing an emergence. That's why we're seeing the Under-17s and Under-20s doing better in international football.

Kids in Africa start kicking a ball when they are six or seven years old, if not younger. It's like baseball, basketball and football in America. If you're talented, people will find you. That's what happened with soccer. The number of academies has grown rapidly, and people are really into it.

I have a lot of experience at Under-21 level, so hopefully that can show in my performances.

The Premier League is probably the best in the world so if you have a lot of players who play well there, it's normal that they are going to grow as players.

I've definitely seen a lot of good players since I've came to Australia and I've definitely seen a lot of players that could easily play in the Championship in England.

My dad had a soccer school that he used to run, the Mark Chamberlain Soccer Academy, I used to go to that for two years until the age of seven.

All three of my kids play soccer. Each one of them started from the time they were about 5 or 6, and we just love it.

When people say 'American soccer,' they think of the U.S. national team. But American soccer also includes Major League Soccer, and until we have a league that produces players at the rate other leagues around the world do, I don't believe we'll ever get to where we want to be.

I started playing soccer at age 6 and played both outfield and goalie. Back then, no one wanted to go on goalie - coaches would make deals with me so I'd do it. It's a tough position as a kid.

I played soccer when I was a kid. I started when I was 8 and played for 8 more years. I was pretty good. I used to train with Atletico Nacional, which is one of the most important teams in Colombia. I used to train every day.

It will be hard to become the best South American striker because, from Argentina, there are lots of outstanding players.

Germany is where I had to become a true professional. They play in big games when they are young. We could model some of our soccer system after what they do.

It's not easy anywhere in the world for a young player to get opportunities at a big club.

It's not easy to break into an Arsenal team from youth.

I started playing when I was about 16, and I got picked for the England youth team when I was 17 because I was doing quite well. It's all spiralled from there.

I don't know how you get in the England squad without getting in the Arsenal team.

I played soccer and could have probably made it to the top league.

It's funny: one of the strongest parts of my game today is heading, and that only really developed when I started playing at the professional level. In the youth teams, all we did was passing.

I'm always learning, especially with the different formations. It will help me in the long run to maybe become a forward player - on the wing or something.

We accept that, in one way now, if you are 27, 28 and still playing for Ajax, you are probably not good enough for the top of Europe because players want to go to the top in Europe.

I was about five or six when I went to the little foundation camps. I got into the academy when I was nine, and I've gone through every age group since and into the first team.

Not everyone is Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. Even Cristiano Ronaldo's first years at Manchester United were quite difficult.

I first realised I was good at football when I started getting scouted by United, Liverpool, Everton; clubs like that had a lot of interest at an early age, and you kind of know then you're on the right path. I was about six years old and had to sign a contract at nine.

I started doing well at Villa when I was six or seven.

From Under 15s to Under 19s, I was concentrating playing for England, it was close to me, I could just go to St George's Park, it was nice. Going back to school when you've just played for England, it was amazing, you're one of the best players in the country, that's why you're getting picked.