Why Chelsea’s Brazilian Midfielder Oscar Is the Embodiment of Arsenal

It was as recent as last Saturday that Arsenal fans were dreaming again of a first Premier League title since 2004.

Arsene Wenger’s side had just beaten Stoke City, 3-1, at the Emirates Stadium to go top of the table, and as they looked down on their rivals, so thoughts of being champions dominated their psyches.

That Chelsea faced West Bromwich Albion the following day needing just a draw to reclaim their position as leaders wasn’t important. The Gunners were heading into Christmas looking as strong as they have for some time, propelled forward by their talisman Alexis Sanchez, who is hunting down Diego Costa in the scoring charts.

For all the false dawns of the past, this season has felt different—or so we thought. Then an away trip to Goodison Park dented the dream. If we include Chelsea’s victories over West Brom and Sunderland, in 270 minutes of football, Arsenal were handed a reality check.

From being top on Saturday, by Wednesday evening Wenger’s men had slipped to third, six points behind the league leaders. With so much football still left to play in 2016/17, it’s not irreparable damage, but then again, this is Arsenal. By hook or by crook, they seem to contrive a way for setting their fans up for a fall.

The moment the Gunners allow themselves to even believe being crowned champions is possible, they implode. That’s what happened against Everton on Tuesday when Ashley Williams scored in the 86th minute to win a game Arsenal had been leading.

It all brings us to Oscar, the Chelsea midfielder who is set for an incredible £60 million move to the Chinese Super League. According to the player himself, per BBC Sport, his move from London to Shanghai SIPG next month is “90 per cent done” and “just depends on a few bureaucratic details.”

If ever there was a player who represented the same qualities as Arsenal so often show, it is Oscar. On paper, the Brazilian has it all; he’s skilful, has a knack for scoring wonder-goals and, when on top of his game, can be unplayable.

Oscar’s a player born for the YouTube generation. In highlight reels, he looks a phenomenon, but in reality, those flashes of brilliance have never been sustainable. He’s flattered to deceive; Oscar’s teased Chelsea fans with glimpses of what he might be without ever delivering on it enough.

Just like Arsenal.

Take his Chelsea debut against Juventus in the 2012/13 Champions League campaign. Incidentally, Antonio Conte was Juve boss at the time, and we saw something rare when Oscar led Andrea Pirlo on a merry dance in midfield, scoring twice in a game the Blues should have won but …

continue reading in source www.bleacherreport.com