Celtic signed Armstrong Oko-Flex from Arsenal last year.
Celtic talent Armstrong Oko-Flex has told the club’s official YouTube channel that Arsenal coach Freddie Ljungberg changed the course of his career.
The Bhoys raided the Arsenal youth ranks in 2018 to sign Oko-Flex, with the teenager penning a three-year deal at Parkhead.
Oko-Flex had been highly regarded at Arsenal, but moved up to Scotland in search of greater first-team opportunities, though he’s mostly played in Celtic’s reserves so far.
Celtic have now spoken to Oko-Flex about what kind of players he is, and he claims his best position is as a left winger, even though he play on the right or through the middle.
Oko-Flex noted that he was a striker, but he was converted to play as a winger by Ljungberg, and that decision has changed him completely as he has been a winger ever since.
“I would say my best position is probably left-wing,” said Oko-Flex.“I was a striker at Under-15’s, when I then had Freddie Ljungberg as a coach at Arsenal. He’s the one that moved me out wide, and ever since then, it’s changed me. I’ve been a winger since then,” he added.
The Irish teenager’s versatility will be key over the coming years, as Neil Lennon will love that he can impact the game from so many positions.
As for Ljungberg, it’s a nice bit of praise for the Swede as he cuts his teeth as a coach. Having initially been Arsenal’s Under-15 coach, Ljungberg moved on to become Wolfsburg assistant in 2017.
The former winger – who played for both Arsenal and Celtic – returned to the Gunners as Under-23 head coach in 2018, and is now Unai Emery’s assistant with the first team.
Maybe one day, Ljungberg could become Arsenal manager, but one thing is for sure – he’s changed Oko-Flex’s career with his big decision to change his position, and Celtic look set to benefit, even if Arsenal didn’t.
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