Arsenal whizkid Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is grateful for the leadership of skipper Robin Van Persie.

The striker has also passed on plenty of valuable advice to 'The Ox', who could make his England debut in Saturday's friendly against Norway.

Oxlade-Chamberlain, 18, said: "He told me that when he first came to Arsenal it was quite similar to me how the boss dipped him in and dipped him out.

"He would score a goal then wouldn't play the next game or he might score two and he wouldn't get on in the next game or would play five minutes.

"He told me to keep working hard and bide my time and keep plugging away and my time will come.

"Before games he tells me to do this or that or go here on a corner. He's a big leader. It will be good if he stays, definitely. I don't know if he will but I hope he does."