Thanks Dad for hauling me off, says Arsenal's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Oxlade-Chamberlain believes his father, Mark, should take the credit for improving him and keeping him grounded.

The Ox, who is set to win his 21st England cap against San Marino on Saturday, reckons a harsh childhood lesson from his father put him in good stead.

"At Southampton, my dad was the academy coach at Under-11 level," said the 21-year-old, in the Daily Star.

"I remember we were away at Tottenham and about 10 minutes in I had made two mistakes and both times he had told me what I needed to do and I didn't listen and learn from it quick enough.

"He pulled me off and said, 'Sit there! Actually, don't. Go and sit in the car'.

"I had travelled all that way and he gave me literally 15 minutes. I was in floods of tears. I remember he said: 'You'll listen to me next time'. He was right."

Oxlade-Chamberlain, 22, left Southampton to sign for Arsenal in 2011, and he has gone on to make 82 appearances for the Gunners.

The speedy winger says he always heeds advice from his dad when needed.

"I always know I can go to him for honest advice. I can have the worst game of my life, come off the pitch and my mum will tell me I was great! That's what mums do.

"But dad has always been able to tell me in the right way whether I have done well or badly."