Arsene Wenger says he plans to hand Calum Chambers further experience at centre-back this season and made clear that the England international will remain a Gunner despite reported interest from Southampton.
The Mirror claimed last night that the 20-year-old, who moved from St Mary’s to the Emirates exactly a year ago for £16 million, had been offered the chance to return to his former club on a season-long loan.
Speaking about his plans for Chambers the boss affirmed that he sees the youngster as a player who can challenge Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny and Gabriel for a starting place in the centre of defence.
“They [Southampton] didn’t try to get him back on loan and I will not consider it. Not at the moment,” Wenger told press at his pre-Community Shield press conference.
“I want to develop [Chambers] as a centre back and at the moment we have just the right number. He will get games here,” he added.
Chambers played the full 90 minutes for Arsenal as they kept a fourth third clean sheet of pre-season in a 1-0 win over Wolfsburg. Voted the Gunners’ player of the month last August – his first full month at the club – the Saints academy graduate went on to make 36 appearances in his debut season including several at right-back.
Arsenal are still waiting to hear the results of an investigation into Chambers’ move last summer. In June the FA confirmed they’d charged the Gunners for allegedly breaching their Football Agents Regulations. The Gunners maintain that they’ve done nothing wrong.
Great, keep him learning from Per and Kos. Good player, will only get better given his young age.
he has developed well judging from his last match. his understanding with Gabriel is a positive to look forward to..
Damn right he will get games, this lad will be our captain in five years time. He ended up playing right back with Walcott ‘protecting’ him no wonder he went off the boil. Love the boy
Is that the same Walcott who was injured or on the bench for most of last season? Are you absolutely sure you’re not thinking of the game against Swansea away, the one he got the most criticism for, when the winger in front of him was actually Oxlade-Chamberlain, who, if I remember correctly, resolutely refused to help Chambers? The same game where Walcott came on when we already 2-1 down? Or are you thinking of some other game? The game against the Saints that we lost 2-0, maybe? Where Chambers was the DM and The Ox was again the RW?… Read more »
Walcott. Theo Walcott. Of Arsenal?
You’re not that bright, it seems.
Calm down @WNH lad. Go have a beer in the corner and chill out son, this isn’t the UN debate session
I think chambers at centre back is probably the best option for him.
Good luck mate.
*third clean sheet, no? (channeling my inner Santi)
Cheers, corrected…
Loan makes no sense. He should be eased into a regular role at CB for the future. Great potential.
Chambers loan? Hell no. Hope we dont get no-one now since we left it too late & anybody we do sign will have crippling expectations placed on them (some fans think bringing in a CF will secure the title). Plus its slim pickings out there so for now we have enough to challenge I guess then lets see what develops. Lets see if all those one season wonders last year are actually WC (Your Lacazettes, Kanes, Berahinos etc).
A man of his word is Wenger – “We are no longer in position where we lose our best players to rival clubs”
Or Southampton
LOL.
Though losing him to Southampton strengthens us – he can’t play against us but can’t against our main rivals.
nitpicking, but we didn’t keep a clean sheet vs Everton in Singapore.
He’s actually pretty great at CB where his pace isn’t much of an issue, as opposed to when he plays RB
Why, after last season’s obvious shortness of numbers at centre back, would we make the same mistake again this year? We’ve definitely got £200m in the bank so don’t need to make mistakes any more.
We are perfectly molding Paulista (aged 24) and Chambers (20) to step up when age takes over Kos (29) and Per (30).
But, personally I don’t think age will ever take over Kos the boss!
it doesn’t hurt that he can cover RB as well. At DM though, I remember Blogs described him as ‘Bambi on Ice’.
He looks calm with the ball and confident going forward. Plus he has cool hair.
I think he can get 15-20 games as 4th choice CB and back up to the Coq & Arteta in DM role, but even if he doesnt get that much game time he will develop strongly in training defending against Alexis, Ozil, Theo and Giroud. With Per getting older we need to get him and Gab ready to take over in couple of years.
Wenger hedged agaisnt the loss of our stalwart Sagna by buying : 1) Debuchy, a seasoned professional and one who superceded Sagna for France.ht 2) Chambers, brought up a Rback for Soton. Technically stronger than Jenkinson and has the natural composure to possibly be developed at Cback in time. 3) Bellerin (promoted) from junior squad due to merit over several pre-seasons. Every bit a factor in deciding to let Jenkinson out on loan. There is every possibility Chambers will either develop into a Cback or revert to Rback when Debuchy moves on. Chambers needs experience positioning. Relying on him (and… Read more »