Arteta Eyes Oxlade-Chamberlain for Coaching Role as Celtic Swoop Completes

While Celtic appear poised to land Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on a free transfer, the real intrigue at Arsenal revolves around what comes next for the 32-year-old midfield veteran.

The former Liverpool man has agreed to join the Scottish outfit on a six-month contract, with the move pencilled in for completion on Friday. The deal caps off a period of deliberation on Oxlade-Chamberlain's part—negotiations had stalled earlier in the week when he pushed for longer terms, before Celtic persuaded him to accept the shorter arrangement.

Oxlade-Chamberlain's availability came about following his summer departure from Besiktas, during which time he has been grafting with Arsenal's U21 contingent to sharpen his fitness ahead of securing fresh employment.

There had been murmurings last week that Arsenal might offer him a temporary lifeline to cover for Mikel Merino's extended absence. Arteta even hinted at flexibility when addressing the media, remarking that "we explore every option." However, the Spanish manager's genuine interest in Oxlade-Chamberlain lies elsewhere entirely.

The midfielder has been working towards his UEFA B coaching accreditation whilst training at the Emirates, and according to reports, Arteta is genuinely keen on recruiting him for the backroom staff once he hangs up his boots. The pair share a considerable personal rapport, having been teammates during the 2014-2016 period when Oxlade-Chamberlain amassed 198 appearances across his six-year tenure at the club.

Arteta's enthusiasm stems from a broader ambition to populate Arsenal's coaching infrastructure with club alumni—a practice that has become increasingly rare in recent seasons. Speaking on the matter, the manager reflected on the value such figures bring: "I love it. That history of the club, people who have lived those experiences bring something different. It's like an academy player who has been here since he was eight. He has something else in them, a special feeling."

He continued: "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."