Alex Oxlade-Chamberlainplaceholder image
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain | Getty Images
The ex-Arsenal man is available and is weighing up his next move in the game
Arsenal have seen a whole host of different players come in and out the doors at the Emirates Stadium over recent years. The Gunners have been a breading ground for some top talent over the past few decades. They are currently aiming to win the title under Mikel Arteta.
The London club have come close over recent times but have pipped to the trophy by the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool. They are hoping that this year is different though. Arteta’s men have won three out of their first four league fixtures and beat Nottingham Forest 3-0 last time out.
Ex-Arsenal man Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain remains a free agent
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was highly thought of by Arsenal after they signed him as a youngster from Southampton. Speaking back in 2017, ex-boss Arsene Wegner said: “I’m convinced he will be the English player in the next two or three years everyone will look at. I rate him highly, he is a player who is on his way up. In the last year he has made huge progress. I want him to stay here for a long time.”
However, his career hasn’t quite gone the way he would have hoped to. The ex-England international, who made 35 caps for the Three Lions, is a free agent. He has recently cut ties with Besiktas and will be weighing up his options.
Birmingham have been linked with a surprise swoop for him. The Blues play their football in the Championship following their promotion from League One and have ambitious plans to go up again. However, it remains to be seen whether they will lodge an offer at this stage.
What has gone wrong for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain?
Injuries haven’t helped Oxlade-Chamberlain and he is no stranger to the treatment room. It is a shame that he hasn’t been able to live up to the early hype. As Wegner alluded to eight years ago, he was tipped for a very bright future in the game.
Oxlade-Chamberlain started his career at Southampton and rose up through their academy ranks. He was a regular for the Saints at various different youth levels before breaking into the first-team. Arsenal came calling when he was a youngster and he subsequently spent six years with the Gunners.
The Portsmouth-born man made 198 appearances in all competitions for the London club and scored 20 goals. Liverpool then lured him up north and he had six campaigns at Anfield before heading abroad to Besiktas. He made 50 outings in Turkey but is now in limbo amid links to Birmingham.
He needs to find a new home now where he can play every week. If that means dropping into the second tier, then so be it. Oxlade-Chamberlain’s spell in Istanbul saw him feature a decent amount of times.
A return to England would make sense for him. Birmingham could see him as someone to boost their midfield department. His wages are likely to be high though so the Blues may have to fork out big money.
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