Alex Oxlade Chamberlain has left Arsenal for a £40 Million fee, an enormous price considering the situation.
The England international joined the club in 2011 and has struggled to earn a regular starting role under Arsene Wenger. The Ox has succumbed to a number of long-term injuries, and has struggled to find a regular position to play in mostly, but things seemed to change last season.
The Ox was tried out in a new right-back position on a couple of occasions, and impressed in spurts. Later in the campaign we changed formation, and he flourished in a wing-back role, and has started the majority of our matches since the switch, but that didn’t manage to convince him to stay.
Chamberlain allowed his contract to run into its final 12 months, and made his intention clear that he would be unwilling to extend his stay, leaving the club to make a decision on his future.
Originally the club agreed a fee with Chelsea over his potential sale, only for Liverpool to swoop in with a counter-offer, and tempt the midfielder to move to Anfield instead.
The most intriguing part of the deal is the wages reported. Chelsea were said to have offered £220,000 per week, Arsenal £180,000 per week, but he is believed to have signed for Liverpool on a £120,000 per week deal, which is a nice change in football, even if I didn’t want him to leave us.
The player appears to have moved for footballing, professional or personal reasons, putting money at the back of his mind, which is refreshing in this day in age.
Are we supposed to hate the Ox now? Does the money factor change any minds? Did we get more than we deserved for a player with one year on his deal?
Pat J