Oxford made his Premier League debut against Arsenal and excelled against the likes of Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey and Santi Cazorla.

The youngster continues a proud tradition of youth development and is a ball-playing centre-back who can also operate in midfield.

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He occupied the holding role against Arsenal and was one of the best performers on the day.

After the game Bilic said: “People were asking 'are you sure he is 16?'"

"I thought if we need someone to sit in front of the defence who is cool and can be a third defender, but who can also play on the ball, I am very proud of him.

"Only on paper he is 16, he is a part of this new generation. Put it this way, if Messi was in front of me I would be more fazed than Reece."

The England Under-17 skipper has already broken the record as the youngest player to ever represent the Hammers when he made his debut in the Europa League against FC Lusitanos on July 02 and, here, Press Association Sport analyses his display at the Emirates.

PERFORMANCE

Risen through the ranks as a classy, ball-playing defender who was once a reported target for Arsenal, but Bilic fancies the teenager as a defensive midfielder and he did not put a foot wrong despite coming up against the likes of Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Happy to issue orders to those around him before being replaced with 10 minutes to go by club captain Kevin Nolan. His development could mean that Bilic has filled a position without having to dip into the transfer market.

West Ham United's English defender Reece Oxford (2nd L) vies with Arsenal's Welsh midfielder Aaron Ramsey during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and West Ham United at the Emirates Stadium in London on August 9, 2015 Image credit: AFP

MATURITY

No-one would have pointed out the 16-year-old league debutant if asked to do so after kick-off. If he does continue in the side there are likely to be hiccups, but with the expected permanent arrival of Alex Song coupled with the likes of Mark Noble and Cheikhou Kouyate, Oxford has plenty of experienced players to learn from.

WILL HE MAKE IT?

There is no reason to suggest not, even at this early stage. Oxford became the Premier League's seventh-youngest player but has international experience and a manager who appears ready to put faith in him to do a job in a role that demands so much.

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