Ex-Arsenal hero Oxlade-Chamberlain reveals he was on personal mission to deny Spurs a Champions League trophy
ALEX OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN has said beating Tottenham in the Champions League final was personal to him because of his Arsenal past.
The midfielder spent six years at the Emirates before signing for the Reds in 2017.
Oxlade-Chamberlain, 25, was an unused sub in yesterday’s Euro showdown.
He only returned to the Liverpool squad in April following a year-long spell on the sidelines due to a cruciate ligament rupture.
But the Ox was all smiles while celebrating with his team-mates on the pitch after Liverpool beat Spurs 2-0 at Wanda Metropolitano.
And in a classy interview with former fellow Gooner Per Mertesacker, he paid tribute to his old pals in London.
Oxlade-Chamberlain said that he knew what would it feel like for Arsenal fans if Tottenham won the coveted title.
And he admitted he was very happy that the Reds had prevented that.
He said: “As former Gooners, we know what that meant to all Arsenal fans out there.
“It was massive for us at Liverpool, but ‘once a Gooner, always a Gooner’, that’s what they’re saying.
“I had a personal, sort of feeling in that game that we needed to get that done for the people I left at Arsenal.
“I know they were all willing us on to win that one. I’m happy that we could do it.”
OL GONE WRONG
Oxlade-Chamberlain’s words contrast with comments of other ex-Gooner Olivier Giroud, 32, who starred for Chelsea in the Europa League final.
The Blues hammered Arsenal 4-1 in Baku, with the French striker opening the scoring, winning a penalty and grabbing an assist for the Blues.
And he then kicked Gooners fans when they were down and mocked his old club, shouting “Thank you, Arsenal” while holding the trophy in wild celebrations on the coach.
The French World Cup winner went even further, saying he was “a proper Blue” and claiming his Stamford Bridge move was an “improvement”.
Giroud signed for Chelsea in January 2018 in a £15m deal, ending his six-year spell at the Emirates.