Arsenal plan shock Oxlade-Chamberlain return after injury-hit Liverpool career

The midfielder has slumped down the pecking order at Anfield in a spell beset by injury troubles, and it's claimed Mikel Arteta wants him to return to north London.

Oxlade-Chamberlain burst onto the scene with Southampton in 2010 at the age of 16, and was snapped up by Arsenal a year later for a fee of £15million.

After six seasons at the Emirates, the midfielder moved to rivals Liverpool for £35m, and went on to win Champions League and Premier League titles.

Injuries have hit the 28-year-old hard in recent years, seeing him fall down Jurgen Klopp's midfield pecking order behind youngsters Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones.

And now reports by The Sun claim a return to Arsenal is on the cards, with former midfield partner Mikel Arteta a keen admirer of his ex-teammate.

Oxlade-Chamberlain managed only 17 appearances last season, and has had to accept his new reality as an impact substitute.

The 35-time capped England international's £125,000 per week deal with Liverpool runs until 2023, but he is reportedly looking for a new challenge.

However, Arsenal are believed to be only considering an initial six-month loan deal for the player, when the January transfer window opens, with an option to make the move permanent at the end of the season.

Oxlade-Chamberlain was a key figure in Liverpool's first run to the Champions League final under Jurgen Klopp in 2017/18, scoring twice - including a memorable long-range strike - to help knock Manchester City out at the quarter-final stage.

The midfielder then suffered a horrendous looking knee injury in the semi-final win over Roma, which kept him out of action for the final defeat to Real Madrid and for the majority of the following season, only making two late appearances.

He was again key the following season in 2019/20 as Liverpool won their first league title in 30 years, but has since seen his reputation fall away, with suggestions the club could sanction a move away.