Celtic: 'Big asset' Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has immediate impact with 'class goal'

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain only had 14 touches after being introduced for his Celtic debut as a 78th-minute substitute against Livingston on Wednesday.

However, one of them could have a telling influence on the Scottish Premiership title race.

The defending champions were on course to drop points against the division's bottom club after missing chance after chance, with visiting goalkeeper Jerome Prior making nine saves in total.

But Oxlade-Chamberlain - who arrived on a free transfer on Saturday on a deal until the end of the season - whipped home his first Celtic goal in stoppage time to secure a 2-1 win, sparing blushes and narrowing the gap to Hearts at the top to six points.

It was not the finish of a man whose previous game of football was last May and has been without a club since being released by Besiktas in August.

Instead, it was a reminder of the quality that helped him win three FA Cups with Arsenal, the Champions League, Premier League and League Cup with Liverpool, while also establishing a regular spot in England's midfield.

"It was a class goal from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain," former Scotland midfielder Michael Stewart said on BBC Radio Scotland.

"Just a calm, composed, quality finish. What an impact he's had already."

Interim manager Martin O'Neil - who remains unbeaten in domestic competition across both his spells in charge this season - was delighted by his newest signing's contribution.

"We didn't look like we were going to get any reward at all and Alex scores this brilliant goal," the Northern Irishman said.

"When it left his foot, I could see it going in and that was a real delight.

"He's been a really fine player in his career, an excellent career. It's just a matter of him getting up to speed and I think that will come. He's naturally fit and hopefully he will be a big asset to us.

"He had a choice of a lot of teams. He's decided to come up here and help us out. He's done more than that, he's got us three points on the board."

Oxlade-Chamberlain has been training with Arsenal in recent months and thanked the Premier League leaders for helping him to hit the ground running in Glasgow.

"It means a lot," he said after his dramatic return to competitive action.

"I have to say a big thank you to everyone at Arsenal, giving me the chance to keep my fitness up, and an even bigger thanks to the manager here for giving me the chance to put on this kit and play for this amazing club.

"When you get those opportunities, you want to be able to pay back with moments of quality like that.

"It's been difficult. Sometimes the way things go in football, especially when you cross that 30-years-of-age barrier, you're not as valuable as you once were in a business sense.

"I knew I still had a lot to give and training every day for the last three months where I was training gave me the confidence that I can still offer a lot to the game.

"I'm delighted to be here and have the opportunity to do that and help these boys."

The 32-year-old's last-gasp goal takes Celtic within a point of Rangers - who drew 1-1 at Motherwell - in second and closer to Hearts, while O'Neill's side carry that game in hand over both.

"Tonight is a great start for me, but more importantly keeps our goals alive and keeps us going in the right direction," Oxlade-Chamberlain added.

He says he leapt at the chance to move to Parkhead, with a wee push from his dad.

"It's an amazing opportunity. When it came up, I didn't doubt it for one second," he said.

"My dad's from an era where this club means a lot. He was straight away telling me 'I'll get you in the car and drive you up there myself'.

"It's a great start, but I know there's a lot more to it than 13 minutes."

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