Former Arsenal defender revealed Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain used to do something ‘appalling’ that Per Mertesacker couldn’t stand

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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain left Arsenal for Liverpool in controversial fashion back in 2017.

The winger had enjoyed an excellent season at the Emirates in 2016/17, but decided to leave N5 for Merseyside after being given assurances over playing time in midfield by Jurgen Klopp.

A talented player with a flamboyant personality, Oxlade-Chamberlain arguably never quite fulfilled his potential, largely due to injury issues.

However, his relaxed persona may also have been to his detriment, with Rob Holding providing a fascinating insight into the Englishman’s character behind the scenes.

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Rob Holding revealed what Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain did that wound Per Mertesacker up at Arsenal

Thriving after bursting onto the scene at Arsenal, Oxlade-Chamberlain was a regular for England in his heyday.

However, spending lengthy periods on the sidelines in North London and whilst at Anfield, the versatile midfielder’s career fizzled out in his late 20s, joining Besiktas in 2023.

Speaking in an interview with Soccer Am in 2017, former Arsenal defender Holding revealed that Oxlade-Chamberlain was the player in the Gunners’ squad who was most frequently fined because of his poor punctuality.

Holding claimed Per Mertesacker was frustrated with these antics from the Southampton academy graduate, and the German subsequently coined a nickname for the player.

Asked who the most fined player in Arsene Wenger’s squad was, Holding responded: “Ox. His timekeeping is appalling.

“We’re always all sat there waiting to eat, who are we waiting for? Per started calling him ‘shambles’.

“You’ll have to be there for 12, at 11:59 he’ll just be strolling up maybe, sometimes past that, and then it’ll be a fine – for this timekeeping alone.”

While Holding’s comments were made in a light-hearted manner, some would argue that there could be a correlation between this lack of punctuality and Oxlade-Chamberlain’s career trajectory.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s Arsenal Statistcs

Arsenal received £35 million for Oxlade-Chamberlain, the highest fee the club have ever attained for a player.

This highlights that the player was exceptionally talented, but he just wasn’t always able to showcase it.

A powerful runner, good passer and strong ball carrier, he also showed under Klopp that he was an astute presser.

However, not quite good enough defensively to play in a true double pivot in midfield, and never productive enough in the final third to be an out-and-out winger, there wasn’t really a clear role for him at Arsenal.

He arguably displayed his best form in a Gunners shirt as a wing-back, which makes sense given his set of attributes.

Oxlade-Chamberlain will ultimately be remembered fondly by Arsenal fans despite his Liverpool switch, although he’s certainly a case of what if.