Is Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s move from Arsenal to Liverpool from a player’s perspective the biggest transfer decision in modern Premier League history?
That may sound hyperbolic, but when you look at the trajectory of both sides and what he has achieved in the past 36 months, it’s a pretty convincing case.
At the time Oxlade-Chamberlain moved to Liverpool, this was considered a side step. Although he asked for a high fee, moving to Liverpool meant a significant cut in wages as Arsenal was willing to spend up to £ 200,000 a week to keep him at the club (Liverpool signed him with one year remaining for his existing Arsenal contract)
Back then, Oxlade-Chamberlain was associated with Man City and Chelsea, among others. Chelsea was fresh from their title under Antonio Conte, who wanted to include Oxlade-Chamberlain as a wingback in his much-discussed 3-5-2 / 3-4-3. It must have been an enticing thing to join the champions in such a key position. City, meanwhile, was trained by Pep Guardiola, the high priest of tactical innovation. Guardiola would surely be the man who would take Chamberlain to the next level.
In City, as in Liverpool, it would have been a useful option to play all possible positions. But he would have joined a bonafid all-star cast that wanted to wipe the floor with the game at home.
Instead, Oxlade-Chamberlain played.
“I just didn’t think I could play where I wanted to play and that was it,” said Chamberlain as he left Arsenal. Jürgen Klopp himself welcomed it as a “difficult decision” at the time, just as it can be a difficult decision to exchange one former Premier League giant for another.
On the course and in his work habits, Chamberlain should become an important part of the Kloppution thanks to his ability to sway between a number of positions, his physical and technical excellence and, frankly, because of his personality – to build a close relationship between the Players, employees and the fan base was a hallmark of Klopp’s approach. Chamberlain is a big part of it, undoubtedly one of the most popular first team members among the other players.
The addition of Oxlade-Chamberlain was a symbol of Klopp’s no-bleep-heads rule. He wanted the players to be ready and ready to run and work. No divas allowed. At Arsenal, Chamberlain got frustrated because of the teams would not Follow his lead when you push the opposition.
Oxlade-Chamberlain claims that he left Arsenal because he wanted to play in midfield and that he saw his future there as a full-back. But it’s hard to believe that it is if you just look at what came to him in Liverpool while Arsenal was putrefying knew Bad habits had formed in North London. It’s no surprise that he, a man who actively insulted teammates on the pitch for not being ready to chase and marry opponents, ended up on a Liverpool team with a relentless attitude.
Still, it’s easy to look at Oxlade-Chamberlain’s transfer fee and wonder if the club has had enough of it. What is his best position? Should he start for that money? But he, like Adam Lallana, James Milner and Joel Matip, brings a lot more than talent on the pitch, though Chamberlain brings a lot with him – he’s currently Liverpool’s third highest scorer in all competitions this season, a bit under the radar.
It is his work ethic, professionalism and experience that were part of the attraction for the Klopp and Liverpool recruitment team. He was an adult, a Specialist. He had experience in the Premier League, Champions League and internationally. And he knew how to juggle all three.
For Oxlade-Chamberlain, it was about playing time and playing in Klopp’s style, which would suit him much better than Arsene Wenger from the late era or Unai Emery from each era.
Three years later, Chamberlain won the Premier League, Super Cup and Club World Cup and played in two Champions League finals and won one. On the way there were some tremendous accomplishments and important goals – the Man City missile; away in West Ham to name just two.
Oh, and he’s only 25 years old. Although it feels like he’s always been there, it is conceivable that Oxlade-Chamberlain’s best football is still ahead of him. Jordan Henderson is 29. Gini Wijnaldum is 28. Both of them are likely to have two to three years at their peak. At this point, Chamberlain should be about to reach his point in a player’s career where everything comes together and his knowledge and expertise reaches the maximum capacity while he still has the legs to do whatever he wants.
During his time in Liverpool, Oxlade-Chamberlain’s ex-club, which he wanted to leave so much, began to decay. The last years of Wenger’s run were not friendly; the Emery period even less. Mikel Arteta is at the top, but Arsenal’s squad remains bloated, overpriced and lacks both talent and desire.
There are still a lot of players in Arsenal’s books who love to drift through the games. That was never the reason for Oxlade-Chamberlain. That’s why it was so perfect for Klopp and Liverpool. He may still be frustrated that he is not a weekly starter, but the prospect of moving is undeniable.
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