Arsenal’s opening-day defeat against West Ham United was a notably mixed day for one player in particular. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain started brightly, but faded in the second half on top of committing a major error that led directly to a Hammers goal. Those are the inconsistencies and kinks that Oxlade-Chamberlain still has to iron out of his game—if he can, he could undoubtedly be the next big star at the Emirates Stadium.
A "star," in football terms, is a player who can break open a game single-handedly. It’s someone who can take a match by the scruff of the neck; who can bend the narrative with their gifts.