Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain explains ‘biggest difference’ in mentality between Arsenal and Liverpool

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain says Arsenal lacked the belief to reach the very top, unlike Liverpool.

The midfielder has been fortunate enough to play for two of the biggest clubs in the Premier League, enjoying huge success in the process.

While winning two FA Cups and three Community Shields with the Gunners, the former England international took his trophy haul to a whole new level at Anfield.

In six years with the Reds, Oxlade-Chamberlain won the Premier League, the EFL Cup, the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.

Winning the biggest trophies in the game was a huge achievement for the midfielder at Liverpool, but according to the now-Besiktas star, their success was no fluke.

Speaking to The Athletic, Oxlade-Chamberlain said: «At Arsenal, we always went into those big games thinking, ‘This is going to be really tough’.

»That was the biggest difference at Liverpool, where, even in the first season (2017/18) when we were a bit of an unknown entity, there was this unbelievable complete and utter focus where there was nothing else happening but us winning the game.

«I don’t know why, but at Liverpool, the big games, we just knew we were going to win.»

Talking about the Gunners, he added: «We won FA Cups, but we probably never achieved what we should have done.

»We had unbelievable quality. Football-wise we had everything we needed to do the business.

«We were just missing… belief? Toughness? Ruthlessness?

»I don’t know. Maybe it was a bit of that."