Kilmarnock star recalls brilliant Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain gesture before Celtic clash
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is not the type of signing Scottish football sees every season.
The midfielder arrived in Glasgow with an impressive pedigree, having most recently been training with Premier League leaders Arsenal before making the switch north. His quality was immediately evident on his Celtic debut against Livingston, where he rewarded Martin O’Neill’s faith with a dramatic late winner.
As Celtic prepare to face Kilmarnock this weekend, one opposition player has special memories of the new arrival.
Tyreece John-Jules, now with Kilmarnock, came through Arsenal’s youth academy. Although Oxlade-Chamberlain had already moved on to Liverpool by the time John-Jules was pushing towards first-team level, the Killie forward grew up watching him as a boyhood Arsenal fan.
Speaking to The Herald, John-Jules revealed a classy gesture from Oxlade-Chamberlain during his youth days at the London club.
“Funnily enough, when I was about 12, I had the same barber as Oxlade-Chamberlain,” John-Jules recalled. “I was a kid at Arsenal and he was in the first team. My barber took me to a game to watch Arsenal and Oxlade-Chamberlain had a box. He surprised me by letting me go into his box to watch the game.
“I met him after the game and got a little picture and stuff. I don’t know if he remembers that! But it was a great experience and a great memory for me.”
The gesture clearly left a lasting impression on the young forward, who also reflected fondly on his time at Arsenal.
“I joined Arsenal at eight — when you’re that age, you just want to play and enjoy football,” he said. “You don’t really take it in; you’re not thinking, ‘I’m playing for Arsenal.’ You’re just running around and enjoying it.
“I’m from a footballing family, so everyone’s always been supportive of me. Growing up at Arsenal was always a great help.”
Oxlade-Chamberlain’s arrival at Celtic has generated plenty of reaction across the football world.
Well connected within the English game, he has joked about receiving constant messages from Andy Robertson since the move materialised and also sought advice from former Celtic players Joe Hart and Virgil van Dijk before making the switch.
Now, as Celtic travel to face Kilmarnock, one former Arsenal youngster will line up against a player who once made his day with a simple but memorable act of kindness.
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