Arsenal plan shock Oxlade-Chamberlain return

Arsenal are considering a move to bring Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain back to the Emirates Stadium, according to reports.

The midfielder has slumped down the pecking order at Anfield in a spell beset by injury troubles, and it’s claimed Mikel Arteta wants him to return to north London.

Oxlade-Chamberlain burst onto the scene with Southampton in 2010 at the age of 16, and was snapped up by Arsenal a year later for a fee of £15million.

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After six seasons at the Emirates, the midfielder moved to rivals Liverpool for £35m, and went on to win Champions League and Premier League titles.

Injuries have hit the 28-year-old hard in recent years, seeing him fall down Jurgen Klopp’s midfield pecking order behind youngsters Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones.

And now reports by The Sun claim a return to Arsenal is on the cards, with former midfield partner Mikel Arteta a keen admirer of his ex-teammate.

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Oxlade-Chamberlain managed only 17 appearances last season, and has had to accept his new reality as an impact substitute.

The 35-time capped England international’s £125,000 per week deal with Liverpool runs until 2023, but he is reportedly looking for a new challenge.

However, Arsenal are believed to be only considering an initial six-month loan deal for the player, when the January transfer window opens, with an option to make the move permanent at the end of the season.

Oxlade-Chamberlain was a key figure in Liverpool’s first run to the Champions League final under Jurgen Klopp in 2017/18, scoring twice – including a memorable long-range strike – to help knock Manchester City out at the quarter-final stage.