Record-breaking former Arsenal star, 32, returns to training with Gunners eight years after controversial exit
FORMER Arsenal star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has returned to training with the Gunners – eight years after he left the Emirates.
The midfielder, now 32, made almost 200 appearances for Arsenal after initially joining from Southampton in 2011.
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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has returned to Arsenal training eight years after his exitCredit: Reuters
The ex-England star spent seven seasons with Arsenal before a controversial move to LiverpoolCredit: Getty
But he made the controversial move to Arsenal’s rivals in 2017 for £35million, which was their record sale.
After six years at Anfield he joined Besiktas – before being axed by the Turkish club this summer.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has been looking for a new club and Arsenal have allowed him to return to London Colney to get his fitness up.
Footage from Sky Sports shows the veteran midfielder being put through his paces in training drills while Mikel Arteta‘s side prepare for their trip to Slavia Prague in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
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Oxlade-Chamberlain’s return might not be well received by all Arsenal fans after his acrimonious exit from the club.
He reportedly turned down a contract offer from Arsenal before signing for Liverpool on deadline day in the 2017-18 season.
And after he joined he appeared to make a dig at Arsenal fans for not supporting him while he was injured.
He previously said: “I’ve had injuries in the past where it’s been difficult because pressure from fans has been ‘he’s injured again’ or ‘we can’t trust him he’s always injured’.
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“But I’ve got injured here and I’ve had nothing but positive feedback from the fans, which for me I can’t thank them enough and that’s what keeps me going every day to try and reward their patience and support.”
But some will remember his role in helping Arsenal win three FA Cups in 2014, 2015 and 2017.
He would go on to enjoy more success in his career as he left Liverpool with a Premier League winners’ medal, as well as lifting the Carabao Cup, Champions League and UEFA Super Cup.
Oxlade-Chamberlain, who picked up 35 caps for England, saw his Besiktas contract ripped up in the summer under previous boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
He agreed a £1.5m termination after a turbulent career in the Turkish Super Lig – which saw him struggle with injuries and he was also frozen out of the squad on a number of occasions.
He made 50 appearances for the club, scoring five and winning the Turkish Cup last season, but he quickly fell down the pecking order under Solskjaer and made a swift exit.
Oxlade-Chamberlain was strongly linked with a return to England after reports linking him to Premier League outfit Leeds United and Leicester and Birmingham in the Championship.
No move has materialised yet, but a move back to England would suit the player and his fiancee Perrie Edwards.
The pair have a child but have never lived together due to the midfielder’s constantly changing football career.
