109 games, 14 goals and 12 assists. Not good enough for four years in Liverpool. Not good enough for such a talent like Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, once a promising Arsenal midfielder, who spent six years at the Emirates before switching to Liverpool in 2017. And four years after, he only got those statistics to show. He has a Premier League medal and a Champions League one too, but he wasn’t much involved in crucial matches and he won’t be any time soon under Jurgen Klopp, so he is contemplating a possible January return to London. And his former teammate, Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta would love to have him back too, if the price is right. Robert Pires: “I decided to leave Arsenal after Champions League final”But why would they need him? If he decides to pursue Oxlade-Chamberlain deal, Arteta would be getting and experienced player to help out the young ’guns’ like Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard. They are few things missing in the Gunners team and experience is one of them. Also, Arsenal will be missing a few bodies, as Granit Xhaka is ruled out for the next two or three months, while Thomas Partey (a regular on the treatment table) and Mohamed Elneny at the African Cup of Nations in January.But, if the switch actually happen in January, he won’t be the only former Gunner returning back to North London. Arsenal fans will remember a few of those players.(©AFP)Thierry HenryArguable one of the best Arsenal players ever became a legend even during his first spell at the Highbury (1999-2007), where he scored over 200 goals and won two Premier league titles, along with a couple of FA Cups. He came back on loan and fitted perfectly, as the Frenchman instantly scored the winner against Leeds in the FA Cup. He only played seven times in his second spell, and scored a goal against Sunderland in his last ever game for the Gunners. Sol CampbellA much beloved Spurs defender did the unthinkable, when he switched over to a rival club as a free agent in 2001. He wanted to play European football and he got it with Wenger’s Arsenal, even scoring in the 2006 Champions League final. He left for Portsmouth that year but came back in 2010 via Notts County, and was resigned as a back up, but due to injuries, he played 14 times in the second half of the season.Mathieu FlaminiThe Frenchman just narrowly missed the famous undefeated season in 2003, as he joined the club a year after. He stayed for four years (won the FA Cup), but moved to AC Milan, before returning as a free agent. Just like Campbell, he initally only trained with the club in order to remain in top shape, but was signed soon and unlike Campbell, played for another three years at the Emirates, even winning two more FA Cups, in 2014 and 2015.(©AFP)Martin KeownWho doesn’t know Martin Keown? One of the most iconic Arsenal defenders played only two season for the Gunners in his first spell, as then manager George Graham bought him in 1984 but sold in 1986, before bringing him back again in 1993. And that’s when a great career kicked off. He was a regular for both Graham and Wenger, and won three Premier League titles with a total of 401 appearances. Jens LehmannEven thou he was sent off in the Champions League final in 2006, and Arsenal lost the game, the German goalkeeper was a regular with Wenger from the time he signed (in 2003 to replace David Seaman), until he suffered a long term injury in the 2007/08 season and eventually left the club. But, he came to Wenger’s aid when needed. Faced with an injury crisis, the Frenchman called Lehmann, who came back from retirement and made one final appearance for Arsenal.
