Former Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has earned minutes for Arsenal in a behind-closed-doors friendly.
Now 32, Oxlade-Chamberlain’s career has petered out somewhat since leaving the Reds in the summer of 2023 and joining Besiktas on a free transfer.
The Englishman only managed one assist in 50 appearances in Turkiye, however, with his Besiktas contract terminated back in August.
Since then, Oxlade-Chamberlain has returned to England, training with former club Arsenal, for who he made 198 appearances between 2011 and 2017, prior to joining Liverpool for £35 million.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Saturday, April 1, 2023: Liverpool's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain during the FA Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Liverpool FC at the City of Manchester Stadium. Man City won 4-1. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
On Sunday, the ex-Liverpool Champions League and Premier League winner earned minutes in Arsenal U21s’ 3-0 victory over Man United‘s U21s in a behind-closed-doors friendly.
Also involved were 15-year-old wonderkid Max Dowman, of whom huge thing are expected, and Gabriel Jesus, who is a long-term injury absentee for the Gunners.
It’s worth stressing that Oxlade-Chamberlain hasn’t signed for Arsenal, though, and isn’t expected to at this point in his career.
It will be interesting to see what his next move is, with the 35-cap England international still at an age where he could be a shrewd addition.
LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, January 23, 2022: Liverpool's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain during the FA Premier League match between Crystal Palace FC and Liverpool FC at Selhurst Park. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
While injuries have often been a negative with Oxlade-Chamberlain, the midfielder played down the accusations earlier this year.
“The whole injury misconception thing has haunted me for years,” Oxlade-Chamberlain he told the Fozcast podcast.
“When I did my ACL at Liverpool, that was in 2018. I can remember going into interviews in 2021 and people still asking me about my ACL.
“With injuries, when you’re at a big club and you’ve got a bit of a profile, and you’re playing for England, maybe your injuries are a bit more high-profile, and everyone knows about them.
“I always felt like whenever I got injured, it was always a bad one. I didn’t get many hamstring injuries or anything like that – it was always a knee that kept me out for a spell of time.
“In a way, I look at mine, and they always seem to happen when I was flying. At that point [in 2018] I was really doing well, so when I got the injury it was a bigger story.”
Oxlade-Chamberlain has always been a likeable player, so it would be nice to see him find a new club, with a promotion-chasing Championship outfit a good option for him.
Southampton and Sheffield United have been linked with him in recent months, for example.
Oxlade-Chamberlain’s best days may be behind him, but he has the versatility and quality to be an asset for someone, especially as he is hungry to rebuild his career.