Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain says he is indebted to his first club Southampton for giving him his break in football.
The 18-year-old rose through the ranks with the Saints from the tender age of seven before eventually breaking into the first team to make his professional debut aged just 16.
After an eye-catching campaign in League One with Nigel Adkins’ side he made the move to Emirates Stadium during the summer after impressing Arsène Wenger.
The young winger has thanked his former employers for transforming him into the exciting talent he is today.
“I owe them massively - I’d been at Southampton since I was seven,” he said. “They put so much hard work into me and the fans down there welcomed me into the first team so warmly.
“I couldn’t have asked for more, so I’ve got a lot of time for them and I hope to be able to play there again one day and show my appreciation. I’ll always have a place in my heart for them.”
Southampton have enjoyed a flying start to their Championship campaign after going up from League One last season and are already being tipped for a second consecutive promotion. Oxlade-Chamberlain would love to see his old friends in the top flight.
“One major factor down there is that it’s such a great group of lads - one of the hardest things about leaving was the boys,” he said. “Whoever comes in is welcomed straightaway, much like here at Arsenal.
“Everyone down there has been going for the same thing, and they’ve had that continuity - they haven’t had many players leaving or coming in, it’s still the tight group that was promoted last season, and I think the lift promotion gave them was massive.
“Things are looking good down at Southampton.”
