Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's Celtic Debut Heroics Signal Renewed Ambition
There are remarkably few footballers in England who can genuinely claim to have accomplished virtually every major achievement the sport has to offer. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain unquestionably belongs within that exclusive group. A three-time FA Cup champion with Arsenal, his high-profile £35 million transfer to Liverpool in 2019 yielded Premier League glory and a League Cup triumph. Subsequently, he added the Champions League, the Super Cup, and the World Club Cup to his impressive collection, systematically checking off each prestigious honour.
At 32 years old, with 35 international caps for England, many players in his situation might feel thoroughly content with their career accomplishments. Perhaps the midfielder's widely documented injury struggles have contributed to his persistent drive, or maybe there is an intrinsic, deep-seated desire that perpetually fuels his ambition for more success.
A Dream Debut at Parkhead
However, as he recovered from an extraordinary introduction to life at Celtic on Wednesday evening, observers could be excused for thinking his trophy cabinet remained entirely empty. Introduced by manager Martin O'Neill after 78 minutes of a match where Celtic were perilously close to stumbling against Livingston, Oxlade-Chamberlain's intervention provided the latest dramatic twist in a season already overflowing with suspense.
His spectacular curling shot in stoppage time secured a vital 2-1 victory, prompting rapturous applause from the Parkhead crowd. When questioned about the magnitude of his hunger for silverware in Scotland following his match-winning debut, he emphatically stated: 'Massive. Whenever I go anywhere, I want to win. I am sure everyone in that dressing room feels the same way. That is part of my DNA and part of what motivates me for sure.'
'First things first, just to get out on the pitch, to be able to help the lads take three points, that is massive. I can just build from here,' he added, reflecting on a moment that felt straight from a comic-book narrative.
Overcoming Challenges and Doubts
This triumphant return followed a prolonged 276-day absence from competitive action, dating back to his final appearance for Besiktas in May. During this period, he maintained his fitness by training with his former club Arsenal, amid speculation of a potential deal under Mikel Arteta that ultimately did not materialise. As other rumoured interests failed to solidify, a perception grew that this exceptionally talented player might now be considered damaged goods.
'It has been difficult,' Oxlade-Chamberlain admitted candidly. 'Sometimes the way things go in football, especially when you cross that 30 years of age barrier, you are maybe not as valuable as you once were in a business sense. I always knew I still had a lot to give. Training every day for the last three months, and where I was training, gave me the confidence in that environment that I can still offer a lot to the game.'
A New Chapter in Glasgow
Understandably, news of his impending move to Celtic initially met with some scepticism among supporters. While Parkhead has welcomed legendary figures like Lubo Moravcik, it has also served as a final destination for numerous thirtysomethings whose peak performances were arguably behind them. Nevertheless, manager Martin O'Neill did not hesitate when presented with the opportunity to sign the free agent.
Oxlade-Chamberlain revealed he would have 'walked over hot coals' to reach Glasgow once the veteran manager convinced him of the potential to revitalise his decorated career north of the border. 'It gives me a chance. It is an amazing opportunity. When it came up, I didn’t doubt it for one second,' he expressed enthusiastically.
'It is a long way from home, but even that was not a factor for me coming here. My family was really supportive of it. You don’t get chances to play for clubs like this. My dad (former Stoke and England player Mark) is from an era back in the day where this club means a lot. He was straight away telling me: “I’ll get you in the car now and drive you up there myself!”'
Support from Teammates and Title Race Implications
Long-standing England colleague Joe Hart, whose three years as Celtic's goalkeeper successfully countered suggestions he was a spent force, had already laid the groundwork. 'I was speaking to Harty maybe four weeks ago about this place and this was before this opportunity had even come up,' Oxlade-Chamberlain noted. 'He was just telling me about his time here, how much he loved it, and how the stadium can be when things are going well. I have just seen a real good glimpse of it.'
Following his fairy-tale debut, he anticipates a congratulatory message from former Liverpool teammate and Celtic enthusiast Andy Robertson. 'If it’s not, I will be disappointed,' he smiled. 'He’s a good boy. I am sure he is going to drop me a text for sure and, if he’s not, I will be texting him to remind him. I need to look at the phone and see what’s happening. People might see that I am still alive and kicking. It’s a good day.'
Wednesday indeed proved auspicious for O'Neill and his squad. On the verge of falling five points behind Rangers, Oxlade-Chamberlain's decisive goal, combined with Stephen Welsh's crucial contributions at Fir Park, engineered a significant four-point swing. In another pivotal night within this captivating title race, Celtic supporters celebrated news of an on-loan Parkhead player depriving Rangers of two valuable points almost as fervently as their own last-gasp winner.
Focusing on the Future
'I didn’t hear that,' Oxlade-Chamberlain responded when informed. 'I was out of the changing room, so that is nice to know. You can’t focus too much on everyone else. The job is to win all the games. That is what we need to be looking to do every time we step on the pitch. I think that is what this football club aspires to do every time we step over the white line.'
'Results like that might go for you, or they might go against you, but we just need to focus on everything that we can control, and that is our results. Games like that where we dominate a fair bit of the ball, I think we have just got to be a bit more clinical and maybe a bit more commanding and get a few more goals when you can.'
After another late show in the Scottish Cup tie against Dundee, O'Neill acknowledged his team cannot persistently rely on fortune. No side that squanders as many opportunities as Celtic did across both matches can reasonably anticipate sustained success. However, with a class act like Oxlade-Chamberlain now integrated into the squad, O'Neill's side appears better equipped to secure victories with greater assurance.
'I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have a think about that when I was on my way in earlier,' the match-winner confessed. 'Those are the moments you dream of, playing at places like this and being able to impact the game, help the team and create moments like that. It is a great start. I have loved every minute of it, and I hope for many more moments like that.'
'It means a lot. I have to say a big thank you to everyone at Arsenal for giving me the chance to keep my fitness up. Then an even bigger thank you to the manager here and this football club for giving me the chance to put on this kit and play for this amazing club. When you get those opportunities, you want to be able to pay back with moments of quality like that.'
