I think he would have, Wenger is normally very patient with the youngsters and I think he is good at easing them through. Look at Walcott, never got that many starts at the beginning but continues to improve. I can see similar happening to the likes of Ox.

I dont often praise Arsenal, but there patience with players is pretty good. Liverpool are the exact oppositte, play a youngster non-stop until he breaks.

I dunno Edin, I dunno if it's me but I always feel players in attacking areas are given more time. Ox is also getting very little game time, do worry bout him being frozen out. Wenger loved Clichy during his time with us, really don't think Bale would of been given a proper run in the team.

If Bale was at Arsenal he would've been a full back.

Wenger would no doubt have seen Bale's qualities and played him in the exact same position he's playing at right now.

Bale would probably have reached the level's he's at right now quicker, as he'd be playing with the likes of Cesc, etc back then.

Thing is, with youngsters they're always going to be inconsistent. When they don't replicate what we know they can do, it becomes frustrating, incredibly so. It was ok at the start, we barely had any competition from those around us in the league. but other teams have started improving, and we can't pin our hope on these inconsistent youngsters.

"If Bale was at Arsenal he would've been a full back."

Not true.

I think the issue is Bale would not be tried as a winger powerking, but I still think patience should be taken with Ox as he is still very young and done better than Bale had at that age. His issue is he needs to buck his ideas up.

Edin

Yeh your right on Ox, clearly has imense talent but he needs a consistent run in the team which I can't see him getting at the moment. Seeing what he's doing to Ox, giving him a game here and there might of been the case with Bale.

Some of this criticism thron at the Ox is ay ott, in my opinion. He's actually played really well at times this season. He has however had a couple of stinkers lately, which is why he's been dropped I'd imagine. Which is only right, you can't be considered a regular on ability alone, only on merit.

I bet the Spurs fans are not aware that Harry' had sold Bale to Birmingham City for £3m. The deal only fell apart because Birmingham were unwilling to meet his wage demands.

Patience is the key.

Yeah he would've because he's got the determination which means he would've been this good as any where else where he'd be able to get games.

No he wouldn't have, Arsenal and Spurs play 2 completely different styles of football. Also don't forget he was shít for a very long time at Spurs, usually when a player hits a rut at Arsenal, Wenger can't turn their career around.

Harry tried to send him to Forest on loan but they wouldn't meet his wage demands, then BAE got injured and he had a run at LB and never looked back.

I wish our deadwood could do something like that!

Yeh your right on Ox, clearly has imense talent but he needs a consistent run in the team which I can't see him getting at the moment. Seeing what he's doing to Ox, giving him a game here and there might of been the case with Bale.
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If you look at Bale, he wasnt getting a run-in at Spurs properly till 21 despite playing some good games for us! I think the difference is that Ox doesnt look like he has the same drive the Bales/Ronaldos/Walcotts of this world have and work hard at the training ground to always improve. I can see him taking the foot off the gas and never really impressing.

It was Modric getting injured that really kick-started his career batmanu, not the BAE injury

power,

A fair atrticle.

I'm not sure of the answer but it would have been criminal if he'd wasted his career at LB.

Thankfully, due to injuries here & there he was given a chance on the left wing.

His composure in front of goal was massively lacking last season, but he seems to have got that sorted now - so is going from strength to strength.

And it shows that British players can make it if only they're given a break.

I think the issue is Bale would not be tried as a winger powerking, but I still think patience should be taken with Ox as he is still very young and done better than Bale had at that age. His issue is he needs to buck his ideas up.
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Don't put ox and bale in the same sentence. The ox is the biggest over hyped talent ever, more that wilshire (who actually is a good player) really annoyed me he went to he euros over Lennon who had a good season. It was like when they take 16yo walcott over defoe in 2006 (i think). Not saying the ox cannot become a good player but I can honestly say hand on heart that I think i think he will be playing for Villa or Wigan in a few years.

i don't rate him at all

Edin, correct me if I am wrong but he did initially get a run at LB, he was pushed higher up the field when BAE came back because he was playing well.

His first game was a 5-0 win vs Burnley where he played LB. But I think BAE came back the game or two after and modric got injured, which moved bale into LW where he played in great performances like the 2-1 win vs you and Chelsea.

Obviously Bales attitude and determination was and is spot on if your gonna make it big in this game. Talent really is just 50 % of it just look at Ricardo Quesma for example.

Bale scored a very good free kick at the Lane against your lot. He was 18 at the time. Think fans have always rated him just not Redknapp - from time to time.

A mate of mine who has a ST at St Marys was more sad to lose GB than TW.

Always looked decent IMO - but he is simply different gravy at the moment.

Bale's early progress was halted by injuries - foot and knee. When he came back he struggled a bit at his 'best' position of LB...but even then he was younger than Jenkinsonis now at Arsenal so you could not expect a 19/20 year old defender to have a complete game.

His quality has always been their, superb technique, especially in striking a ball/pass/cross/shot.

He's just gone up a different level in each of the last 3 seasons and now he's really in top form

Bale scored a very good free kick at the Lane against your lot. He was 18 at the time. Think fans have always rated him just not Redknapp - from time to time.

A mate of mine who has a ST at St Marys was more sad to lose GB than TW.

Always looked decent IMO - but he is simply different gravy at the moment.
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I always rated him, the season you signed him I put him straight in my FPL team. Got me feck all points though. Also I remember that free kick but there were 2 better goals in that game alone