Arsene Wenger has hailed Calum Chambers terrific energy and paid tribute to the 19-year-old’s performances both in central defence and at right-back.
Arriving at the Emirates as something of an unknown quantity – despite a hefty £16 million price-tag – the Southampton Academy graduate has turned heads with the way he’s settled into Arsenal’s first.
“He has been remarkable in every position,” the manager told Arsenal.com after the North London derby . “He has an unbelievable engine. He goes and goes. It’s not often that you see that quality.”
A midfielder in his younger days, the boss has even admitted he may test the versatile teen in the centre of midfield in light of the injuries to Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere.
“I’d consider playing him in midfield but I don’t know about Wednesday [against Galatasaray] because I only have four defenders at the moment.”
One concern hanging over Chambers’ head is the fact he’s picked up four cautions in the Premier League and is only one away from a suspension.
Last week the boss touched on some of those bookings being the result of inexperience, although he stressed the last two against Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur have been harsh.
“His yellow card was very harsh and the one against Villa was very harsh as well. I’ve told him to be keen and committed and I think he had a good game overall.”
Chambers certainly seemed to thrive as he repeatedly bombed down the right touchline dovetailing with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, even clipping the bar with a sweet volley that nearly dragged the Gunners level.
Talking to Arsenal Player about his first Arsenal-Spurs experience he admitted he was taken aback by the passion on the terraces.
“We knew it was going to be tough. It was my first taste of a north London derby and I really enjoyed it.
“I thought the fans got behind us really well. We’re a bit disappointed not to get a win but I thought the team display was good and we can get positives out of that.
“[Playing in the derby was] amazing. The whole day, the whole occasion. The fans got behind us and were amazing and when we got that goal, you could see how much it meant to everyone.
“It’s just an unbelievable feeling, how much they get behind you. They do that in every game but you can just feel the atmosphere raises to another level during a north London derby.”
By the look of it he could be excellent at DM. Might need to show restraint in the first 25 minutes to avoid an early booking, then he will settle in and shore-up. 🙂
hugely impressed with the guy so far – looks a great spot by the boss!
Don’t forget the scouting team, i remember reading an article when he signed detailing the original scouting report, while everyone else was wetting themselves over Luke Shaw the Arsenal team singled out Chambers as the one to watch.
He is only a kid and already he is looking priceless.
What would we do without him ?
I’m sure we will find out soon when he inevitability gets injured -____-
Chambers really is amazing.
The way Chambers and Oxlade-Chamberlain play together, I’m thinking we should invest in a team full of ‘Chamb’-named players
I’d even have them, in light of our midfield injuries, paired in midfield
‘And Chambszney lobs out to Chambersacker, who offloads the ball to Chambteta, who threads a neat ball through to jack Chambshere, Chambshere to Chambzil, who flicks it on to Chambroud, Chambroud plays it out wide to Chambcott, who flicks it on to the overlapping nacho Chambreal, Chambreal whips in a cross for the late ariving Aaron Chambsey, he heads it back off the post into the path of Chambolski who cracks it in on the volley, before running to the by-line for a quick selfie with Chambzorla, what a play’.
“That’s just the type of goal Arsene Chambger loves to see, and he’s just had a nice high five with Steve Chambould.”
Him and Sanchez signings of the season so far from a gooners point of view…
I don’t think that’s fair. Debuchy was doing really well at right back till he got injured!
Chambers – the only good thing about our season so far!
I’ve been more impressed with Chambers impact than Alexis’ so far. I’m certain Alexis will be a hugely significant signing but Chambers’ performances have been really solid wherever he’s been deployed. Keep it up son!
Pretty sure we’ve got the most English talent in the premier league at the moment: Wilshere, Ox, Chambers, Gibbs, Theo, Welbeck. Would love to see the likes of Isaac Hayden and Dan Crowley progress to the first team eventually too!
Lets just appoint the entire Southampton youth academy staff!
plus physios?
I’d honestly love to see how the training regimens compare.
And the training and match pitches.
I see him being a fixture in the team for 15 years. A new Mr Arsenal hopefully!
Chambers Is an Elite Steam Engine
Best signing so far. He slots into positions seamlessly. I believe he could be a back up goalkeeper too. COYG!
Comfortable on the ball and knows when to take a yellow. Very intelligent and I think he should get a run of games as DM.
As soon as we get some defenders back, that is.
He remind me of Kolo. I’d love to see him winning duels against John Terry.
The last time Wenger used the word ‘engine’ to describe someone he got injured. Let’s hope it is not the case this time around.
Magnificent engine is useless if we don’t sort out our mystery muscle plague 🙁
Who said wenger dont know about defenders. Apparently mertasacjer may be a bit slow, koscielny mistake prone and chambers a bit expensive. All three to me seem like quality signings and signings a world class manager makes. A manager that knows quite a bit about defending. wenger well done on your signings. Sanchez should maybe start on the left and get told to interchange more often in order for there to be a more fluid attacking style. Chamberlain by the way looked very comfortable popping up in the middle. When is walcott due to come back?
What a player he looks. Would have love to have seen that rocket against Spurs go in the top corner. I really do think he has a future in CDM if he wants it – hard to say where his best position is, though, and you want to develop him in whatever that position is. Honestly, though, if we weren’t so short at the back I think it would be worth giving him a crack in there now as Arteta (injured) is okay in the games against low pressing teams, but far too slow against the high pressing ones and… Read more »
Wenger should make sure he doesn’t turn Chambers into another Phil Jones (Jones never locked down a position, and look where he is now; granted, playing for Un*ted doesn’t help, but still). It’s a shame the League Cup’s over, it’d be a good opportunity to give Chambers a run as a holding midfielder in a lower-pressure match, just to see how he does.
It’s amazing that our best buy for some time is turning out to be a kid from Southampton. Unbelievable talent, unbelievable academy. Very early days but it’s like I’m watching a young TA step out for us again.
The core of this squad is really very excellent. I feel like this is the closest we have come to having a complete team that can properly compete for many years.
We have normally been 4 or 5 players away from being title contenders. Now its’ really just 1 or 2.
We have a lot of engine players in our team. That’s fine and all. Now maybe we should try the right tactic to use that quality and see some end product?
The booking at the weekend was totally correct. It was a tactical foul to stop a counter.
He does look like a future legend though.
A yellow card against Rottenham is never correct. Fuck em!
Play chambers at dm and throw bellerin at right back. We need more experience/steal at DM. When the defenders on the flank are beaten. The dm covers or covers the covering cb. Either way we need chambers there more.
Too risky. If one of them were to get injured we would have no cover at LB.
Thats it arsene big up one of your buys and rightly so he’s damn good for a kid but your only trying to deflect attention away from what was a poor display at home v shit.
Imagine if that volley had gone in though!
Aaaaand Kos might be injured. So are we down to 3 defenders now?
‘A team of chambs’ hahaha. #findramblingpete
19 nanananana 19
The coach with no ambition, using old phylosophy likes to gamble alot.