Former Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is actively preparing for a future in football management by completing his coaching qualifications at his old club, with current Gunners boss Mikel Arteta expressing a strong interest in recruiting him for the backroom team once his playing days conclude.
Coaching Development and Current Situation
Daily Mail Sport has learned that the 32-year-old has been diligently working towards his UEFA B coaching licence in recent months, utilising Arsenal's facilities in north London for this purpose. Simultaneously, Oxlade-Chamberlain has been maintaining his fitness by training with the club's Under-21s squad, as he remains a free agent following his departure from Turkish side Besiktas in August.
The experienced midfielder, who earned 35 caps for England, is currently engaged in advanced discussions with Scottish Premiership giants Celtic about continuing his professional playing career. However, his long-term vision clearly involves a transition into coaching, with Arsenal emerging as a likely destination.
Arteta's Vision for Former Players
It is understood that Arteta holds Oxlade-Chamberlain in high regard and is particularly enthusiastic about incorporating former Arsenal players into the club's coaching structure. The two share a close bond, having been teammates at the Emirates Stadium between 2014 and 2016, during which Oxlade-Chamberlain made 198 appearances across all competitions over a six-year spell.
Arteta has publicly emphasised the value of having ex-players within the setup, stating: 'I love it. At the end, that history of the club, people who have lived those experiences bring something different. It's like an academy player that has been here since he was eight. He has something else in them, a special feeling.'
The manager elaborated further: 'And that's the power of it. I would be more than happy to have more. I have some very personal relations with some ex-players that have been part of different teams in the history of the club that are so helpful because they have lived things in a different way. Sometimes they have different perspectives as well from the outside of the things that we do. And that's a big value to us.'
Licence Limitations and Future Progression
Currently, the UEFA B licence that Oxlade-Chamberlain is pursuing restricts him to coaching Arsenal's younger age groups, specifically the Under-19s or Under-18s, due to age-related regulations. Should he decide to advance his qualifications, obtaining the UEFA A licence would enable him to work with the first team or the Under-21s, though this process could take up to twelve months to complete.
Recent History of Ex-Players at Arsenal
Arteta's apparent drive to reintegrate former players into the club's coaching framework comes after a period where such appointments had diminished. Notable examples in recent years include:
- Edu Gaspar, who served as sporting director from July 2019 until his departure in November 2024.
- Freddie Ljungberg, who coached the Under-15s before being promoted to Arteta's first-team staff in December 2019, leaving in August 2020.
- Per Mertesacker, the academy manager since July 2018, who is set to leave this summer.
- Jack Wilshere, who was head coach of the Under-18s from July 2022 until October 2024.
This strategic approach underscores a conscious effort to preserve institutional knowledge and foster a distinct club culture, with Oxlade-Chamberlain potentially becoming the latest beneficiary of this philosophy as he plots his post-playing career path.
