MIKEL ARTETA OFFERS ALEX OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN COACHING ROLE AT ARSENAL
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is choosing between a playing career at Celtic and a coaching role offered by Mikel Arteta at Arsenal.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, now a free agent, has a couple of big decisions on his plate. Arsenal recently offered him a spot on their coaching staff, even as he’s deep in talks with Celtic about a return to playing. Since leaving Besiktas last summer, he’s been figuring out his next steps and has been back training at Arsenal for a while.
Celtic look like they’re close to sealing the deal. Oxlade-Chamberlain, 32, is expected to head up to Glasgow soon to wrap things up. But Mikel Arteta isn’t giving up on him just yet. Arteta really rates him, wants more ex-Arsenal players involved behind the scenes, and hopes Oxlade-Chamberlain will consider coaching at the club when he decides to hang up his boots. While training at Arsenal, Oxlade-Chamberlain has been working toward his UEFA B coaching licence, so he’s clearly thinking ahead.
Even so, it sounds like Oxlade-Chamberlain told Arteta he’s not done playing. A move to Celtic keeps getting closer.
Arteta’s always been big on bringing former players into Arsenal’s backroom team. When asked about it, he said, “I love it. People who’ve really lived through the history of the club bring something different. It’s like an academy kid who’s been here since he was eight—they just have something extra. I’d love to have more. I’ve got some great relationships with ex-players from all sorts of Arsenal teams, and they’re really helpful.” As for signing Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arteta kept his cards close to his chest: “We explore every option.”
Still, Celtic haven’t locked anything in yet. The deal missed the deadline to register new players for their Europa League match against Stuttgart. Oxlade-Chamberlain’s already started medicals with Celtic, and personal terms don’t seem to be a problem. The sticking point? Contract length. His camp wants an extension option at the end, and that’s where talks have stalled.
Celtic are still interested, but just in case things fall through, they’re looking at Tiemoue Bakayoko, who used to play for Chelsea and AC Milan. Bakayoko left PAOK in January and is itching to get back into the game. Last month, he said, “Some things are coming about my future. I’m feeling 100 per cent ready for the next challenge. I miss football a lot.”
WHAT IS THE "AURA" MIKEL ARTETA SEES IN BUKAYO SAKA’S RECENT PERFORMANCES?
"He shifts momentum." Read Mikel Arteta’s full analysis of Bukayo Saka’s importance ahead of the crucial West Ham showdown.
Mikel Arteta sees something special in Bukayo Saka’s presence on the pitch, an “aura” that he believes could drive Arsenal toward a Premier League title, just three games away from ending a 22-year wait.
During Saka’s recent absence with an Achilles injury, Arsenal managed only a single win in five matches. His return, however, seemed to breathe new life into the squad. Saka set up Viktor Gyokeres for the opener before scoring himself in a solid 3-0 victory over Fulham last weekend.
More crucially, Saka netted the decisive goal that helped Arsenal secure a 2-1 aggregate win over Atlético Madrid, booking their first Champions League final appearance since 2006.
Since making his debut for the Gunners seven years ago, the England international now carries the hopes of pushing Arsenal for vital points, starting with a key clash against relegation-threatened West Ham at the London Stadium, followed by matches against Burnley at home and Crystal Palace away on the season’s final day.
When asked about Saka’s importance, Arteta highlighted the growing role he plays not just within the team but also in how opponents see him. There’s a clear presence, a certain quality that sets him apart. According to Arteta, Saka can shift a game’s momentum at any time, and instilling that kind of respect or even fear in the opposition is invaluable.
Arteta also touched on managing Saka’s comeback after injury, emphasising the idea of channelling fresh energy and motivation into his performance rather than rushing him back too soon. He described it as a privilege to have a player like Saka, someone who embodies core values and principles, both on and off the pitch. Beyond the football, there’s a human connection that makes working with him rewarding. What Saka showed, especially in the recent Champions League semifinal, was nothing short of remarkable.
Alongside Saka, Declan Rice has also become a pivotal figure since his £100 million move from West Ham last year. Now 27, Rice will make his 59th appearance of the season when Arsenal faces his former club on Sunday. His impact has been significant, earning him runner-up in the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award behind Bruno Fernandes.
Arteta praised Rice as a key leader and a major force for the team, underlining the powerful role he plays as Arsenal chase success this season.
WHY DID JURRIEN TIMBER’S "SIMPLE" INJURY TURN INTO A SEASON-ENDING MEDICAL MYSTERY?
After reaching the Champions League final, Arsenal face a fitness race for key stars ahead of their clash with West Ham.
Mikel Arteta has admitted that both Mikel Merino and Jurrien Timber are running out of time to get fit before the season ends – a tough setback for Arsenal right now.
Both have been out for weeks, dealing with foot and ankle injuries. The hope was always that they’d be back for the final stretch, giving Arsenal a boost when it matters most. This week, Merino at least made it back onto the training pitch, but Arteta has confirmed neither he nor Timber will be involved in Sunday’s big match against West Ham.
Arteta said he has no new injury problems elsewhere, but for Merino or Timber to play before the end of the season, their recoveries would have to be almost perfect. Timber’s situation in particular has turned out to be more complicated than they first thought.
“That’s probably been the hardest part for everyone. For me, for the player,” Arteta said. “We really didn’t think it would take this long, and he’s still not ready.”
Meanwhile, things are going well for Arsenal on the pitch. They’ve pulled five points clear at the top of the Premier League, and they just beat Atletico Madrid, booking a spot in their first Champions League final in two decades.
There’s still a twist, though. Manchester City play Brentford first this weekend, and they still have a game in hand. Even so, if Arsenal win their last three matches, the title is theirs.
Next up is West Ham, who are fighting to avoid relegation and could easily trip Arsenal up. Arteta knows his team can’t afford any slip-ups. “After the Atletico win, I was completely caught up in the emotion. You could feel what it meant to everyone fans and the staff. But straight after, my focus went to West Ham,” he said.
“We talked as a team about how we’ve earned the chance to be in the final, and we have time to get ready, but right now, all our focus and all the details need to go into West Ham.”
