Pundit backs Arsenal to sign player ‘loved by Klopp’ after newspaper update
Noel Whelan has claimed Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain would “fit right in” if he sealed a January return to Arsenal.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted the Liverpool midfielder, 28, has a “strength in character” after his struggles with injury in recent years.
As reported by the Sun (October 11th), Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is planning a January reunion with England international Oxlade-Chamberlain, who has “fallen down the pecking order” at Anfield.
The report also claims the Gunners are exploring the potential for a six-month loan deal with an option to make the move permanent.
The 35-cap England ace’s Anfield contract will expire in the summer of 2023.
Whelan suggested Oxlade-Chamberlain’s versatility and “depth of character” makes him an ideal candidate for Arsenal when the January window opens.
“He’s a player that I don’t think any manager would have a problem with,” he told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury.
“He seems to have a great attitude, hard-working, he gets on really well with Jurgen Klopp – I don’t think anyone would have a bad word to say about him.
“He seems like a really level-headed young man, especially with all the injury concerns he’s been through, and he has a strength in character as a result of that.
“It would suit Arsenal’s style of play, he’s very direct and can play both centrally and out wide.
“It gives them added options. He’s a player with a depth of character that would fit right in at Arsenal.”
Oxlade-Chamberlain left Arsenal for Liverpool in 2017 for a reported £35million.
The former Southampton midfielder has never started more than 17 Premier League games in a season.
But he has 211 Premier League appearances in total, which have yielded 17 goals and 27 assists.
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