Wenger hails Gunners starlet

Arsene Wenger feels Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is developing "ahead of schedule" after establishing himself in the England side.

The forward joined the Gunners in a £12million deal from Southampton in August 2011 and has already become a regular at the Emirates Stadium. The 19-year-old has also secured a place in the England side and was included in the Euro 2012 squad. Wenger admits he did not expect Oxlade-Chamberlain to make such rapid progress, but the Arsenal expects the youngster to remain grounded despite his success. "He is ahead of schedule, because I didn't expect him to be honestly in the national team at the moment. He is ahead of what I have planned," Wenger said in the Daily Mirror. "When you come from, basically, youth team football to that level, it's like you go from primary school to university - and you have to learn quickly. "It can be damaging if a guy thinks, 'Hey, look who I am.' It could be bad if he was a bit big-headed. We have all been young - I'm not sure that we would have dealt well with the situation. It is not easy. "But he is not like that. In his case, it's good. He is very level-headed, very humble. So I think it's good to experience the tactical level of the other players in England. Honestly - because I feel he needs to get the tactical urgency - for him it is good."