Gunners star almost chose rugby

Published Oct. 9, 2011 9:15 a.m. ET

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The 18-year-old was offered a trial by London Irish, but former club Saints prevented him from going. Oxlade-Chamberlain told The Sun: "My senior school didn't play football. It was a rugby and cricket school and as I was on a sports scholarship I was forced to play rugby. "I played scrum-half or full-back and I was all right at it. I got a trial for London Irish but couldn't do it because Southampton wouldn't let me." The teenager, who scored in Arsenal's Champions League win over Olympiakos, said dad Mark - a former England international - kept him grounded. He added: "He'll watch me play and, if I've done well, he'll have a quiet word with me and say, 'Well done'. If I've had a not-so-good game, he'll let me know about it."