​When Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain touched down in Glasgow this February, he arrived with a wealth of top-level experience and a reputation for delivering in big moments. Barely 12 minutes into his first substitute appearance for the Hoops, Celtic fans were treated to a vivid display of the quality that the man nicknamed The Ox brings to the field. With the match against Livingston level at 1-1 deep into stoppage time, the Englishman curled a precise shot from just outside the box into the bottom corner to seal a victory for Martin O’Neill’s side and ignite a wave of ecstatic celebrations inside Celtic Park.
It’s impossible to quantify the exact impact of any given goal or win over the course of a season, but given the drama surrounding Celtic’s Scottish Premiership title defense last season—and the fact that their fifth straight crown was secured by a margin of only two points—it’s reasonable to say that Oxlade-Chamberlain’s late winner on that chilly February night at Paradise played a crucial role in pushing Celtic toward silverware.
On Saturday, July 4, it was announced that the former Arsenal and Liverpool midfielder had agreed a new one-year contract with the Scottish champions, and by Wednesday, July 8, he had joined the squad at their pre-season base in Portugal. After reconnecting with his teammates, Oxlade-Chamberlain sat down with CelticPlayer to share his excitement about extending his stay at Celtic Park.
“I was delighted we could get it done,” he reflected. “I kept myself fit, stayed focused, and hoped I could return north for some pleasant weather and a chance to reconnect with you all. I’m excited to start this season and feel like I’ll get a proper pre-season with the boys, so I’m really looking forward to getting going.”
“I really like the changing room, the lads, the manager, and the coaching staff. I’ve genuinely enjoyed the challenge all along. It was a no-brainer for me, especially with the support of the fans and how special it felt to be part of that experience.”
“The fact that I got to experience last season, I think that helps me enormously as we head into this year, because I know a lot about what the manager, Shaun, and the coaching staff want from us.”
“I genuinely hope that, for both myself and the group, we have a fantastic season and create many more memorable nights and moments. I’ll be working hard and ready whenever the team needs me to contribute in a meaningful way.”
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s full interview is available exclusively on CelticPlayer.