West Ham hot-shot Reece Oxford: I was rejected by Tottenham before stunning Arsenal

Reece Oxford has revealed Tottenham turned down the opportunity to sign him

WEST HAM wonder-kid Reece Oxford has revealed he was allowed to slip through the net at Tottenham before ending up at Upton Park.

 

The 16-year-old made a debut against Arsenal in the 2-0 win on Sunday that Gunners’ boss Arsene Wenger – another manager who looked into the possibility to securing his talents before he put pen to paper professionally with the Hammers – described as “very convincing”.

Oxford’s mature performance as a holding midfielder was further complimented by legendary player Graeme Souness, who described the fact his performance was produced by a 16-year-old as “bordering on the ridiculous”.

 

Oxford's performance against Arsenal was described as "bordering on ridiculous."

Oxford swapped shirts with Arsenal's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain after West Ham's win on Sunday

And while Bilic is determined to try to keep Oxford’s feet on the floor in coming weeks, it is testament to the West Ham academy that they spotted his potential after he began his career in a very different role.

Oxford revealed: “I was at Tottenham for a while but they didn’t want me. I decided West Ham was the right option. I don’t know what happened with Tottenham - I was a striker back then.”

 

“But at West Ham the set-up is great. The Youth Academy likes to push the players. West Ham have been giving players chances. There are a lot of players coming through.”

“After several appearances on the bench last season, Oxford was already being compared to another West Ham protegee Rio Ferdinand, a comparison Oxford describes as “good”.

West Ham’s disappointing Europa League campaign was at least a chance to blood its younger players – although a starting place at the Emirates still came as something of a surprise to Oxford.

 

“Last season I was on the bench a few times so I was expecting to be in and around the first team but not starting against Arsenal!” he said.

“The game in Europe helped me a lot. I was told just to sit and break up play, and talk to my team-mates. Keep it simple. Don’t try too much.”

“One minute I was speaking about Match of the Day and then I thought: ‘Tomorrow I’m going to be on it. I hope I get a win!’

 

“So it’s good. I’ll go and celebrate with my mum and everyone.”

After notching the best pass-completion rate of anybody on the pitch, West Ham’s “Ox” managed to swap shirts with Arsenal’s version – Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

He had also managed to keep £40m man Mesut Ozil largely under wraps for most of the 79 minutes.

That is nothing compared to the pressure he faces next Thursday, though, when his GCSE results arrive.

“I went to school at Alexandra Park  but  I have just finished,” he said. “I’m going to get my results soon,”