Arsene Wenger says Calum Chambers has improved on a number of levels this season as he continues to learn his trade at Arsenal.
The centre-back, 23, came close to a move to Leicester in the summer having spent the previous season on loan at Middlesbrough but has since worked his way back into contention at the Emirates, even penning a new contract.
Chambers has made 16 appearances in all competitions this season, competing with Rob Holding as back up to Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi when the first choice duo need a breather.
Wenger is pleased with what he’s seen from the former Southampton player in training this campaign and thinks there’s further room for improvement with age.
“He’s more composed, physically he has moved up, he is more mobile, he is lighter on his feet,” Wenger told Arsenal.com.
“Technically he has improved and his confidence is better. It’s a consequence of concentration in training work, it’s also a consequence of ageing a little bit.
“You become a complete player and between 21 and 23 is an important evolution in a player’s mind.
“Some make it, some don’t make it, so it is about learning your job and being able to express it under stress, under demands, to be competitive and to be efficient.
“I believe Calum is an intelligent boy who tries to learn, and he has some good examples here. We have centre backs with good experience like Koscielny, like Mertesacker, who is every day around our defenders. They take advantage of that.”
Let’s hope he goes on to become a better player.
Chambers has a walker Texas ranger beard!!!
He will probably play tomorrow. Can’t get there because of the absurd engineering works on the railways that makes it so difficult for those of us who live quite a long way away, for me 100 miles, to get to Sunday matches. Did people see the City/United game? The awful foul on Aguero that should have led to a red card and a penalty shows why there are no English refs at the World Cup in nerve agent Russia. I hope my cousin survives the visit on Thursday.
Someone forgot to take their ADD pills today.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1578754/
Is that you Ken M?
Looking forward to the Dungeon (Holding Chambers) grow up and be our first choice CBs.
If we play a back 3 is the name going to be the “bowl”?
NachoHoldingChambers
I wish we could magically make Monreal and Kos stop aging!
I still think Holding looks better than Chambers, but obviously I hope they both have long fantastic careers for Arsenal.
I like chambers he definitely has something about him. Hopefully he’ll come good and make his mark with us.
Have been pleasantly surprised with him this year. Hope he continues to improve because we are in desperate need of a consistent and reliable centre back.
I’ve always quite liked him. Too slow to be a right back but decent centre back
There are plenty of slower FBs in the PL, but he didn’t have the experience to read the game well enough. So he got caught out too easily by some quick wingers. I’m not sure if a bit more experience has helped him make up for it or not yet…
Always liked Chambers. Definately the most skillfull on the ball of our centre halves.
I used to think he would end up being a DM, but now Im hoping more for a young Bonucci at Arsenal.
Both him and Holding have great talent that I hope will not go to waste.
He’s getting better with regular games. Hope he has a chance with Mustafi tomorrow. Save the old war horse Koscielny for midweek. Both Mustafi and Chambers can establish a good partnership and both have improved considerably. The number of key blocks and intercepts that Mustafi has put in for 10 matches now will largely go unheralded by stat merchants who prefer to sow their own agenda. If we can keep improving defense organically but add a strong keeper behind (should Ospina leave) and a strong DM option in front, we will have the benefit of familiarity to build on. Holding… Read more »
We should really start to play Holding and Chambers together in these Prem matches. Yes I know they’re not experienced but I have really liked the way they have both played when put in. Both have great potential that is really beginning to show signs of developing into great talent. If both ofd them can add a bit of Per and a bit of Kos then they will be alright!