Class act Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain rolling back the years at Celtic
Last season Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain didn’t exactly set the heather on fire in his short time in a Celtic jersey, but he’s now rolling back the years with impressive performances against Falkirk and Aberdeen, as he starts to show his true worth to the Celtic supporters.
To be fair to the former Liverpool and Arsenal player, when he signed as a free agent back in February, he was badly lacking the necessary match fitness to make an impact due to being without a club for a significant period of time.
The Ox is the best trainer at the club says Shaun Maloney
The last few months of last season, plus the significant benefit of a full pre-season has been a terrific help to the former England international. He has built up his match fitness, and he’s reaped his rewards with those with two impressive displays on the bounce, in the victories over Falkirk and Aberdeen.
Shaun Maloney was speaking to the mainstream media earlier this week and pointed out that The Ox was the best trainer at the club, doing more extra sessions that anyone else and it certainly looks like all of his hard work has paid off as he is now showing why Martin O’Neill was desperate to sign him initially on a short term deal at the start of the year and then again in the summer on a permanent contract.
Oxlade-Chamberlain is a class act
The 33 year old is clearly class act of a footballer, and admittedly whilst not as influential as he was in his absolute prime, he still possesses that ability that makes him stand out from most footballers in the Scottish top flight.
Along with Callum McGregor, Alex offers not only great quality in the middle of the park, but his experience is also a great asset, as he is after all a player who has represented his nation at major championships, as well as competing and winning at the top level of club football in his hugely successful career.
We may have lost the fantastic energy of Arne Engels, and the creatively of Reo Hatate, but the likes of the OX and of course the new arrivals this summer can fill that void with his terrific natural ability and experience.
Here’s what the Ox had to say to Celtic’s in-house media after last night’s 3-0 victory over Aberdeen…
New signings Oliver Sorensen, and Joel Van den Berg will add some much needed fresh input to our ailing midfield, but having a fit and available Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be of great benefit to our side.
The OX is now fully fit, and now showing us the class that we always knew he possessed. It very much looks like this is another call that Martin O’Neill has got right. He’s such an intelligent operator is Martin.
