Mikel Arteta didn’t completely rule out Arsenal re-signing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on Monday, but Celtic could be a more likely destination for the player.
Former Arsenal player Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been back training with the club in recent months as he searches for a new side following his contract termination by Besiktas.
Separately, with Mikel Merino suffering an injury, the Gunners have been on the lookout for a midfielder at the end of the January transfer window.
Mikel Arteta was asked on Monday whether Oxlade-Chamberlain could fill that role in the squad, and the Arsenal boss responded: “We explore every option.”
Despite the January window closing, Oxlade-Chamberlain remains an option due to his status as a free agent. But the 32-year-old could be more likely to move up to Scotland.
The Scotsman report in their print edition on Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026 that Celtic have been linked with a move for Oxlade-Chamberlain, with no rush to complete the signing before Monday’s deadline.
That’s perhaps a more realistic transfer for the player to make, as Arsenal’s continuing fight for trophies on four fronts doesn’t really tally with signing a player who hasn’t kicked a ball in a competitive game for over eight months.
The Premier League squads for the remainder of the season will be confirmed later this week, but if there’s still space remaining then clubs are allowed to add free agents until March 26th.
Arsenal will have space in their Premier League squad, so it’s technically possible that they could sign Oxlade-Chamberlain at any point until then.
Yet even though Arteta isn’t ruling it out, the expectation should be that he doesn’t intend to sign Oxlade-Chamberlain before that deadline.
Arsenal’s goal throughout this process has been to help the player get fit, to take his help mentoring their u21s, and then for him to find a new club.
It would damage that last goal if Arteta came out and said there was no chance Oxlade-Chamberlain is at the level to play for his team. So even if that’s what he believes, it’s tactful not to say it.