Oxlade-Chamberlain's Dream Debut Delivers Dramatic Celtic Victory
Former Arsenal and Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has confessed that his spectacular debut goal for Celtic was something he had been "dreaming of" after joining the Scottish Premiership side earlier this month. The 32-year-old, who signed on a free transfer, made an immediate impact by scoring a brilliant stoppage-time winner to secure a 2-1 victory against Livingston on Wednesday evening.
A Long-Awaited Return to Form
Oxlade-Chamberlain's goal, his first since December 2024, came at a crucial moment, propelling Celtic to third place in the league table, just six points behind Hearts with a game in hand. Reflecting on the strike, he revealed, "I was drawing that one up in the hotel room earlier; they are the things you dream of. Still at this age, late on in my career, moments like that are why we play this game; you never get bored of it."
The midfielder expressed gratitude towards Celtic for offering him the opportunity to reignite his career, stating, "I'm delighted the club has given me the chance to be back on the pitch and put faith in me to have moments like that. Now that is my job: to add quality." Prior to his move, Oxlade-Chamberlain had been with Turkish side Besiktas before returning to Arsenal to maintain his fitness after his contract was cancelled.
Manager's Verdict on Rapid Impact
Celtic boss Martin O'Neill admitted he did not anticipate such a dramatic start from the new signing but praised his class and experience. O'Neill remarked, "He's been a class player, there's no question about it. He's played for big teams and he's performed brilliantly. I'm just really delighted to have him. Getting him onto the field, he turns the game for us, which is brilliant."
O'Neill added, "Did I think he was going to be as dramatic as that in scoring the goal? Maybe not. But I think that he can give us something, no question about that. He's a really decent player and he gets up to speed with things quickly. He's only done it a couple of days and I couldn't be more pleased with him."
Looking Ahead for Celtic
The manager highlighted Oxlade-Chamberlain's positive influence, noting, "He's made a big impact, believe it or not, even in the training sessions with the rest of the players, which is always a good sign. I'm just delighted he's in and I think that when he's properly fit, he'll be great for us." O'Neill also commended the midfielder's modesty and determination, suggesting that at 32, he should be at the peak of his career.
Celtic's upcoming fixtures include an away match against Kilmarnock this weekend, followed by a Europa League playoff first leg against German side Stuttgart at Celtic Park in midweek. The club will be hoping Oxlade-Chamberlain's debut heroics are a sign of more contributions to come as they push for domestic and European success.
