Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s introduction into the Glasgow derby was a brutal one.
Martin O’Neill started Celtic’s winter signing against Rangers on Sunday, but hooked him off at half-time, with Chris Sutton’s pre-match fears becoming a reality.
The former striker expressed his worry about Celtic’s midfield before the game, so he wasn’t surprised by their performance in the opening 45 minutes, including Oxlade-Chamberlain, who treated the match like a ‘testimonial.’
“I mentioned before the game that the midfield area was a worry,” said Sutton. “Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain couldn’t get up to the pace of the game. It was like he was thinking it was a testimonial, and it wasn’t.”
In the end, the call to bring on Reo Hatate at half-time proved to be pivotal because, not only did he change the direction of Celtic’s performance, but he also scored the equaliser.
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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain gets a bitter taste of the Glasgow derby fixture
Oxlade-Chamberlain has done it all in his career. Played for some of the biggest clubs in England, won trophies, played in the Champions League, represented his country, and also played abroad.
But how he went about things at Ibrox should be a wake-up call because, as Sutton alluded to, the experienced midfielder just couldn’t match the intensity of such a high-profile derby match.
Speaking on Sky Sports Football (01/03/26), Sutton gave Hatate his flowers and suggested that he showed Oxlade-Chamberlain how it should be done.
“What a strange game,” said Sutton. “It sort of sums up both teams pretty well this season, doesn’t it? Celtic were bullied in the first half.
“I mentioned that the midfield area was a worry. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain couldn’t get up to the pace of the game. It was like he was thinking it was a testimonial, and it wasn’t.
“I thought the changes from Martin O’Neill were really decisive. However bad Reo Hatate has been this season, and he has been sulking, I think, for parts of the season.
“But he showed what a quality he can be, and actually is. He came on, and I thought he dictated the second half, and Celtic were the dominant team.
“I think 16 of the 17 shots they had were in the second half. Martin O’Neill will be delighted with that recovery.
“In the end, a point suits Hearts and Motherwell more than anyone.”
Oxlade-Chamberlain’s stats for Celtic against Rangers
Celtic beat VfB Stuttgart in midweek, but still bowed out of the Europa League, with Oxlade-Chamberlain unavailable for the fixture because he wasn’t registered in the European squad.
So in that sense, he was fresh, but clearly, not playing regularly since the end of last season will have a long-term effect on the player.
You do wonder if he starts Celtic’s clash at Aberdeen in midweek, or the Scottish Cup tie against Rangers again at the weekend, because if he doesn’t, it wouldn’t be a surprise.
- Minutes played: 45
- Total shots: 0
- Touches: 25
- Unsuccessful touches: 2
- Successful dribbles: 1
- Possession lost: 9
- Carries: 4
- Key passes: 1
- Accurate crosses: 1/4
- Accurate passes: 11/14
- Accurate passes in the opposition half: 4/7
- Defensive recoveries: 2
- Tackles won: 0/2
- Ground duels won: 3/4
- Sofascore: 6.5
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