Arsenal could turn to former Liverpool star as emergency replacement after Mikel Merino injury

Last Updated on 3 February 2026

Arsenal’s plans for the run-in have been seriously disrupted right at the end of the January transfer window. Mikel Merino’s broken foot has left Mikel Arteta short in midfield with months of the season still to play.

With surgery confirmed and Merino facing a race against time to feature again this campaign, Arsenal have been forced into the market late, and options are thin.

That reality has reopened the door to a familiar face. One already back at London Colney and quietly waiting in the background.

Mikel Arteta keeps door open as Arsenal consider Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain return

Mikel Arteta has refused to rule out a short-term move for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The 43-year-old admitted in his pre-match press conference that Arsenal are exploring “every option” as they scramble to add depth before the window shuts.

The 32-year-old is currently training with Arsenal’s Under-21s after leaving Besiktas in August, making him an unusually straightforward emergency solution. He knows the club, the manager, and the demands of the system, and crucially, he is already on site.

Arteta has been clear about the urgency of the situation. Losing a key midfielder at this moment in time, across multiple competitions, leaves no margin for error. Any incoming player must be able to adapt immediately and contribute without a bedding-in period.

Oxlade-Chamberlain fits that brief better than most free agents. He played alongside Arteta during his time at Arsenal before moving to Liverpool where he won plenty with Jurgen Klopp. While nothing is advanced, the fact Arteta hasn’t closed the door speaks volumes.

Celtic face tense wait as Arsenal show interest in Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Sky Sports report that Celtic are also considering Oxlade-Chamberlain, though their interest underlines a very different problem.

Celtic’s need is out wide, particularly on the right. Oxlade-Chamberlain, however, hasn’t been a natural winger for years. Injuries and tactical evolution have shifted his game inside, with his minutes at Liverpool and Besiktas coming almost exclusively in central areas.

At 32, with an extensive injury history and little recent match rhythm, expecting him to provide width, pace and one-v-one threat would be unrealistic. If Celtic pursue him, it would be for experience and midfield depth, not as a fix for their ongoing right-wing shortage.

But for Celtic, it also is proving to be a nervous wait. Should Arteta and Arsenal formalize their interest, it’s difficult to see the Scottish champions rivalling the Gunners.