Could Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain re-sign for Arsenal?

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Could Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain re-sign for Arsenal in the January transfer window?

By Jack Lacey-Hatton 

This time ten years ago Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was one of the brightest prospects in the Arsenal squad.

Having signed from Southampton for around £12million, Chamberlain debuted in the infamous 8-2 defeat at Manchester United, maybe the only bright spot on an otherwise grim day.

A month later he was opening the scoring in a Champions League tie against Olympiacos.

Now, a decade on, he is being linked with a possible return to the Emirates stadium, with current club 
Liverpool reportedly ready to cash in on the 28-year-old.

The midfielder first moved to Merseyside back in 2017 for £35million.

He is currently under contract until 2024, so Arsenal may have to pay a fair price to bring him back to N7.

Some reports even suggest Liverpool want to recoup the majority of the original transfer fee they paid for him.

So would it be a good move for Arsenal?
 

Yes - he should be brought home

‘The Ox’ undoubtedly still has the quality required to play at the high end of the Premier League, which is where Arsenal need to be at the end of the season.

Crucially, he also provides something Mikel Arteta’s midfield is currently missing – energy.

The England international has always looked at his best when given a box-to-box role and would bring a different dynamic to the current Arsenal engine room.

Oxlade-Chamberlain also always has a goal in him, a trait he has managed to maintain even when featuring on a more sporadic basis at Jürgen Klopp’s all-conquering Liverpool side.

Thomas Partey, for instance, has yet to score since joining last year.

Although Oxlade-Chamberlain is undoubtedly a more forward-thinking midfielder by nature, it highlights an issue in the team that needs addressing.

Granit Xhaka isn’t known for his goalscoring prowess, while Albert Sambi Lokonga has only found the net on three occasions in a senior career approaching 100 games.

The Ox was primarily used as a forward in the earlier part of his career and would, almost automatically, increase the goal threat.

If he could be brought in for a fee of around £16million, surely that would be worth the risk of bringing him back?

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at Liverpool

No – he isn’t worth it

Is it ever worth coming back for a second spell in football?

Maybe it was for Thierry Henry. But for every Henry or Martin Keown, there is a Mathieu Flamini.

Second comings don’t always work out – so there are no guarantees it would be a success for the Ox.

Also, recent injury troubles have left him side-lined for much of the last three campaigns. As a result, he has struggled to become as integral to the Liverpool team as he would have liked.

In the 2019 Champions League final against Tottenham, he was left as an unused substitute. He also didn’t feature in their recent top-of-the-table clash with Manchester City.

During the really big moments, Klopp doesn’t seem to trust Oxlade-Chamberlain with a starting berth. Would he be trusted back at Arsenal?
 

Verdict

Despite having a few seasons disrupted by injury, Oxlade-Chamberlain remains a player of undoubted quality.

His energetic style would bring some much-needed aggressive pressing to Arteta’s midfield, which at times still looks a little passive.

Even if he didn’t start week-in, week-out, surely the 28-year-old would be able to provide a decent alternative to Thomas Partey and Albert Sambi Lokonga, who are both still adapting to the rigours of Premier League football.

The player who would be returning to North London is not the same as the one who left back in 2017.
He is far more experienced, has worked under one of the world’s best coaches, and has won everything there is to win in the club game.

As he enters his prime years, and hopefully an injury-free run, he could be the mid-season signing to make a genuine difference to Mike Arteta’s team this year.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

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