Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain made his feelings clear when Liverpool scored against Arsenal

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain once offered a subdued response to a late Liverpool equaliser against his then-former team, Arsenal.

Arne Slot's soaring Reds are poised to clash with Mikel Arteta's Gunners at the Emirates Stadium this Sunday in what is shaping up to be a crucial early-season encounter with major Premier League title implications. Sparks usually fly when Liverpool meet Arsenal, and this was particularly true when they faced off at Anfield in April 2023.

Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus put the Gunners 2-0 up within the first half hour. However, a spirited comeback - despite a 54-minute penalty miss by Mohamed Salah - was capped off by a last-minute Roberto Firmino equaliser.

The draw, which turned out to be one of many disappointing results that derailed the Gunners' title bid that season, showed Oxlade-Chamberlain provide a remarkably respectful reaction, as he sat on the Reds' bench, to Firmino's header.

The midfielder, who currently plays for Turkish club Besiktas after leaving Anfield in the summer of 2023, spent six years in north London. He made a move to Liverpool in 2017 having been hesitant to play as a winger at Arsenal.

Despite winning the Premier League and Champions League on Merseyside, his stint at Liverpool was hampered by injuries, which have also caused him to miss significant time in Turkey. He also often struggled to secure a spot in Jurgen Klopp's starting line-up due to his time on the treatment table, and as result, was on the bench when his old team came to visit.

READ MORE: Mikel Arteta provides Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber injury update ahead of Arsenal vs Liverpool

READ MORE: Every word Mikel Arteta said on Saka and Calafiori injury, Saliba absence, Arsenal vs Liverpool

During the game, Arsenal's media team were busy capturing Arteta's touchline antics and his every emotion over the game's twists and turns. However, their former player could also be spotted during the celebrations after the late equaliser.

As the Spanish boss threw his hands in the air in anger, Oxlade-Chamberlain could be seen standing up to get a better view before giving a mild clap and returning to his seat – evidently wishing to withhold his celebrations to offer some respect for his former employers.

Although his connection to the club, where he grew roots post-Southampton is clear-cut, Oxlade-Chamberlain conceded that on Merseyside the mindset might be sharper compared to the Emirates, which could hint as to which way the tides may turn come this afternoon.

"At Arsenal, we always went into those big games thinking, 'this is going to be really tough,'" he told The Athletic. "That was the biggest difference at Liverpool where, even in the first season (2017/18) when we were a bit of an unknown entity, there was this unbelievable complete and utter focus where there was nothing else happening but us winning the game.

"I don't know why, but at Liverpool, the big games, we just knew we were going to win. We won FA Cups [At Arsenal], but we probably never achieved what we should have done."