Arteta wants Oxlade-Chamberlain return as Celtic transfer talks twist – ‘Big admirer’
Mikel Arteta is a “huge admirer” of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and wants him to return to Arsenal as the midfielder “agrees a contract” with Celtic.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has been training with Arsenal’s U21s in a bid to improve his fitness and join a new club after being let go by Besiktas in the summer.
And the 32-year-old is now understood to have secured a move to Celtic, who managed to persuade him to join on a six-month deal after talks were “stalled” earlier on Thursday as Oxlade-Chamberlain sought a longer deal.
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Fabzizio Romano wrote on X: “The Celtics are closing in on Axel Oxlade Chamberlain on a free transfer, expected to be finalized Friday.” Six-month contract concluded with the former Liverpool player.
There was speculation last week that Arsenal could offer Oxlade-Chamberlain a short-term deal due to Mikel Merino’s long-term injury – “We are exploring all options,” Arteta told a press conference – but while the Spanish boss does indeed want Ox back, it appears to be in a different capacity.
Oxlade-Chamberlain completed his UEFA B coaching license while training at Arsenal and THE Daily Mail report that Arteta “is interested in him joining the club’s staff once he retires from the game”.
The report adds:
“It is understood that Arteta is a big admirer of Oxlade-Chamberlain and is considering hiring him into the coaching staff once he retires. The pair have a close bond and played alongside each other at Arsenal between 2014 and 2016. Oxlade-Chamberlain made 198 appearances in six years at the Emirates.
“Arteta’s interest is said to be driven by a desire to have former players in the Arsenal line-up, which has declined in recent years.”
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Asked about this desire to keep former players at the club, Arteta said: “I love it. Ultimately, this history of the club, the people who have had these experiences bring something different.
“He’s like an academy player who’s been here since he was eight. He’s got something else about him, a special feeling.
“And that’s the strength. I would be more than happy to have more. I have very personal relationships with former players who have been part of different teams in the history of the club and who are very useful because they experienced things in a different way.
“Sometimes they also have different perspectives from outside of the things we do. And that’s a big value for us.”