Last season Arsenal went into the campaign desperately understocked in the central defensive area.
Thomas Vermaelen had been sold, Per Mertesacker was just back from the World Cup with a Jules Rimet hangover, and Laurent Koscielny was carrying an Achilles problem.
This time around, the two main men are in good shape, Gabriel was purchased from Villarreal in January, and Calum Chambers, a year older and more experienced, is now considered one of the options.
Speaking to Arsenal Player, Arsene Wenger confirmed that the former Southampton youngster is going to be used in that position, as well as providing cover for Hector Bellerin and Mathieu Debuchy.
“I will use Calum Chambers more as a central defender but he can also help out at right back as well,” he said.
The 20 year old made 39 appearances in his debut year at the club but after a very promising start, struggled for form as the season progressed.
However, he cut short his summer holidays to ensure he was ready for the start of the new season. Despite not playing for the England U21s at the European Championships, he was given an extended break but chose to return early to get started on what’s sure to be a big season for him.
Fair play.
Here’s hoping that he can progress and take over from the void that Per will leave in the next year or so
Up the arse
deceptively skillful (or is it called technique? he knows how to keep the ball and evade opponents with ball at feet) on the ball. i believe in you chambers.
Yes I do too. I think it is quite sad and quite indicative of the ‘everything immediately’ society that we live in that people were so quick to jump on his back when his form tailed off a little. He is a young lad still right on the cusp of his career lest some forget. Central defence I think will be perfect for him, he has great feet, he is calm on the ball, decent passer and has a good physical presence, what he might lack in comparative pace to some others will be tempered somewhat in that position. I… Read more »
It’s absurd considering he’s still just 20 years old. 20. For God’s sake.
I think he’s going to be an awesome centre half actually. He just has all the attributes. He could be a great player, but I don’t think it will be at right back. And it doesn’t seem like Wenger really thinks so either.
I don’t really think his form dipped. He just isn’t a right back which is where nearly all his poorer performances were played. Including when he was rushed into the England senior side by Hodgson.
In pre-season last year he was our stand out performer. He’s got a very bright future as a CB.
The only concern i have with Chambers at CB is he does seem to like to hold onto the ball a bit too long and invite unnecessary challenges, which he often evades, but definitely at the last thing you want your CB to do, since there is nobody behind him to cover him when he inevitably gets caught. I think thats something Per and the gang can help him to rid himself of as he matures. Hopefully he learns this in practice rather than the hard way on game day.
The one concern I have is that he gets carded a lot. When his opponent loses him, he tends to do silly stuff like pulling his jersey back(which is a straightforward yellow). That’s okay on the wings, but he’ll have to be careful in the CB position. He’s twenty though. He’ll learn how to foul better.
Interesting no mention of him as a DM, which was mentioned last season.
Maybe it’s the game at St. Mary’s, maybe it’s the fact that his slow turn of pace, but most of us (and probably the club too) feel that he’s best played at CB where he’s not required to cover as much ground. You certainly don’t want a slow player at DM, that seemed to be the biggest issue we had with Arteta (positionally perfect, but if he’s beaten by his attacker, he’s not going to recover).
I see him as a cb myself as well. Doesn’t quite have the pace or the crossing ability the modern rb needs to have but his reading of the game and composure on the ball are quite something. Was up there with my favourite players start of last season. Hope he progresses this season
He didn’t play for the England U21? Little wonder they crashed out early!!!
Good to see him play there in league cup and get experience
I think we have enough cover as Nacho can jump in there.
We gave Adams a chance and he needed time to mature – let’s give Chambers the same as I really like what I see
Calum Chambers is a young and talented player for the future of Arsenal Football Club and team. There is no doubt about the young boy, he is not selfish when with the ball, he might lack speed by he is very technical like Per. He read the game so well, but sometimes he is childish because when he is beaten by the opponent on the ball, he normally grabs the opponent, as a result he gets a yellow card. He should try to improve on that, I know he is still young and we need him to continue playing for… Read more »
what a handsome team we have got
Who need speed when you are already there. All he needs is a tactical positioning which d great Per will be willing to teach him and how not to lose an aerial duel.
He is a massive talent compare to shaw
I like everything about this guy. He’s physically imposing, seems very mature, and cutting his break short to get stuck in? What a pro. Its easy to be convinced that he has a big future at the club. Signing players like Sanchez took him out of the limelight too and he can quietly progress.
Big up Calum, but as a club looking to mount a title challenge we do need to look at who will perform immediately, established players. With that in mind, we only have 2 established defenders. Gabriel is a bit of an unknown quantity although he has shown signs he can do a good job. Calum is in the development stage. I think one experienced proven signing in centre back would be perfect.
There’s one in every crowd, isn’t there?
Geniuses are rare
He was a RB for Soton. Last season he was unfairly trusted into Cback bc Debuchy got hurt and Koscielny was not ready (plus we should have signed someone to cover but did not) His inexperience (and Monreal’s) cost us as most goals came in from wide areas not the mythical soft centre as imagined. However Calum has a good naturaly disposition for the middle. He needs to learn positioning which comes with experience (and unfortunately mistakes) but he looks a quick learner and his technical ability (better than Jenkinson) allows him to stay calm under pressure. I think Cback… Read more »
As I metioned we now have 2 good options for every position (plus plenty of players to fill in bc of in built versatility) : CF – Giroud, Welbeck, Walcott (Akpom) RW – Ox, NewPLayer, (Walcott, Santi, Ramsey) LW – Alexis, Akpom (Welbeck, Santi, Ox) AM – Ozil, Santi (Ramsey, Jack) CM – Ramsey, Jack, (Santi, Ox) DM – Coquelin, Flamini, Arteta RB – Bellerin, Debuchy (Calum) LB – Monreal, Gibbs (Flamini) CB – Per, Calum (Debuchy) CB – Koscielny, Gabriel GK – Cech, Szsc, Martinez That’s a very very full squad packed with experience in every position and plenty… Read more »
Idon’t know who NewPlayer is, but maybe you’ve heard of Tomas Rosicky?
And of course one of his endearing qualities is that he is not, and never will be, John Terry.
Talk about trying to get a cheap pop
Good display against Everton. Some question marks still with positioning (both him and Koscielny) particularly when they had the goal disallowed first half (That was a legit goal I thought) He has the disposition and composure for the job but needs experience in positioning (where Per is so brilliant) He was a liability last season in only bc we forced him into an unfamiliar Cback position early bc of Wenger’s failure to buy a Cback back up to Meterscielny. Most of our goals were leaked from crosses and not the mythical soft centre. I suspect this season, he will be… Read more »