Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain got his first taste of Old Firm action as Celtic were forced to come from behind to salvage a 2-2 draw against Rangers. And supporters have made their thoughts on him clear after his latest performance.
The Bhoys had a nightmare opening half an hour, as Youssef Chermiti bagged a brace to put the hosts two goals up in the heated contest. Martin O’Neill elected to bring newly signed midfielder Oxlade-Chamberlain off at half-time, hoping that Reo Hatate could be the man to help change the tide.
Celtic looked a new team after the break, causing constant trouble for Jack Butland in the Rangers net. They got one back through Kieran Tierney 10 minutes after the restart and fashioned six big chances in the second half. Spurning all but two, they were made to wait until added time at the end of the game for the equaliser, as Hatate grabbed a late goal.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has Afternoon to Forget at Ibrox
Since moving to the Scottish giants at the start of February, there’s been plenty of positive praise for Oxlade-Chamberlain from Celtic supporters. He earned plenty of great reviews in his full debut against Hibs, having also impressed against Livingston and Kilmarnock.
Having closed the gap to Hearts at the top of the Premiership, O’Neill knew that a win against Rangers would take them up to second place above their fierce rivals. But he clearly believed at half-time that Oxlade-Chamberlain wasn’t the man to help the team bounce back from a poor first-half performance.
Outclassed and outfought early on, Oxlade-Chamberlain was withdrawn after completing just 11 out of 14 passes attempted, with him only managing 25 touches of the ball. He was also guilty of giving possession away nine times and failing to win either of his two tackles attempted.
How Much Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain Earns at Celtic Compared to Arsenal and Liverpool Wage
Oxlade-Chamberlain’s wage in Scotland looks even more interesting when you compare it to what he earned during his time in the Premier League.
It certainly wasn’t a performance of the requisite level and his withdrawal coincided with Celtic’s fortunes improving tenfold. It will be interesting to see if O’Neill chooses to start him in bigger matches moving forward.
Celtic Fans Fume With Oxlade-Chamberlain After Rangers Draw
Oxlade-Chamberlain’s 45-minute cameo has sparked plenty of reaction online among sections of the Celtic fanbase. Many are displeased with what they saw and believe that he isn’t playing at a high enough level to benefit the side. One wrote: “Oxlade-Chamberlain playing like he’s having a kick about down the park. Here to top up his pension.”
Another added: “Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain just isn’t quick enough on the ball to play in this country. Decision making isn’t good enough either.” And someone else echoed those feelings, writing: “Oxlade-Chamberlain thinking he’s still in the English league. Far far too slow on the ball every time. Needs to wake up and realise this is a competitive game.”
One more Celtic fan added: “Oxlade-Chamberlain another English dud who thinks they can come to Scotland and breeze it then realising they can’t handle the pace of the game here.”
Others weren’t surprised at all by O’Neill’s decision to bring him off. Someone said: “There was no way Oxlade-Chamberlain was coming out for the second half.” And one final fan wrote: “You can add Oxlade‑Chamberlain to the list of English Premier League players who couldn’t hack the Glasgow derby.”
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