Arsenal - Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
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Mikel Arteta has expressed his delight at seeing former teammate Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain return to Arsenal, as the midfielder joins the club’s training sessions to maintain his fitness while searching for a new team.
The 32-year-old, who has been without a club since leaving Turkish side Besiktaa in August, has ruled out early retirement and remains eager to continue his career. On Monday, Oxlade-Chamberlain was pictured training with Arsenal’s youth squad at London Colney, while the first team prepared for Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Slavia Prague.
Arteta and Oxlade-Chamberlain first arrived at Arsenal together in the summer of 2011, and the Spaniard fondly recalled their time as teammates. Speaking at his pre-match press conference, the Arsenal manager described the midfielder as a model professional and a positive influence around the training ground.
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“Top. Top character,” Arteta said when asked about the veteran midfielder. “One of the best characters I’ve met in football. If we can help him and give him the space for him to get up to speed and have the capacity to find a club, it’s a joy. The boys will learn from it. I had the privilege to play with him and if he is around, he will be a really good role model to have around the team.”
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain returned to London Colney today as he trained with Arsenal while he searches for a new club.
He was with the Gunners between 2011 and 2017 before leaving for Liverpool. pic.twitter.com/utZLtOw96F
— now.arsenal (@now_arsenaI) November 3, 2025
Oxlade-Chamberlain joined Arsenal from Southampton as a teenager in 2011 and went on to make 198 appearances for the club, scoring 20 goals and helping the Gunners lift three FA Cups. His versatility and dynamic style made him a fan favourite before his £35 million switch to Liverpool in 2017.
At Anfield, he enjoyed both domestic and European success, playing 146 matches, scoring 18 goals, and lifting the Premier League and Champions League trophies. After six years with the Reds, he moved to Beşiktaş in 2023, where he made 50 appearances and won the Turkish Cup before mutually terminating his contract earlier this year.
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Although his next destination remains uncertain, the 35-cap England international has been linked with potential returns to Southampton and Birmingham City, though neither move materialised during the summer.
For now, Oxlade-Chamberlain is focusing on staying sharp and fit with the help of his former club. His presence at Arsenal’s training ground is not only aiding his personal comeback but also providing invaluable experience and mentorship for the club’s younger players.
And for Arteta, welcoming back a familiar face from his own playing days is clearly a pleasure and perhaps a reminder of how much Arsenal’s culture of professionalism and camaraderie continues to endure.
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