Here at AFCMO, we, the writers, talk amongst ourselves, as fans do, about all things pertinent (& some not so pertinent) to the club we choose to make the centre of our affections.
Here we are, it’s pre-season. As football fans we’ve been treated to what has arguably been the best World Cup in our lifetimes (our writers ages range from late teens, to mid 30’s). So to fill the void we make a point to focus on the upcoming pre-season friendlies and of course, the foul mistress that is the ‘transfer rumour’.
As a disclaimer, it’s important that we make a point of hammering home the inalienable fact that the very nature of a transfer rumour means that it may well not come to pass. We’re not in a position to give any credence to any rumour of a supposed signing, other than of course our own judgement of the source or sources we choose to analyse.
Such is the way of pre-season and clubs signing players, things can (and do) change and develop quickly. So reporting any potential signing is always subject to change until the ink is dry on a contract and a club unveils the player making the transfer official.
Arsenal Latest Transfer Rumours
So, without any further ado, let’s kick things off with the news reported on Friday night (25th July) reported by various sources in the UK that Southampton’s exciting young rightback Calum Chambers not only was subject to interest from Arsenal, but (according to some) Southampton had agreed a deal to sell the player to Arsenal, believed to be in the region of £10/12 million to take the defender from St. Mary’s to the Emirates.
There’s something in the water at Southampton. Saints academy is the envy of the Premier League, churning out household names in recent years. Gareth Bale, Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and now numerous stalwarts representing the club, all of who impressed in spades last season with Southampton are proof that at youth level, the Saints have got it right. Often the transition from youth or even reserve football to the 1st team can be a rocky one. Southampton seem to have ironed out all of those potential problems that lay in wait for a youngster looking to forge a successful professional career and have a steady flow of academy players taking to 1st-team football like proverbial ducks to water.
So what of Calum Chambers? Who is he? What is he? And is he at a level to be of use to Arsenal Football Club?
Chambers is a 19 year lad from Hampshire. Southampton being his boyhood club (although his place of birth is closer to that of fierce local rivals Portsmouth), he was a successful product of the Saints academy system and was promoted to the 1st-team set-up at St. Mary’s at the start of the 2013/14 season.
Chambers is very much a rightback, though those who have coached the player from grassroots level and pundits impressed by his performances last campaign strongly suggest that there’s plenty of scope for him to apply himself as a central defender.
Having gained experience playing for and often captaining England at under-19 level, many believe that Chambers should be fast-tracked to the full National team, where the rightback position is seen as a real weakness. At the risk of mischief making, any young “prospect” given such a poisoned-chalice at this stage of their burgeoning career is enough to make you wince.
Such were Chambers’ impressive outings in the Premier League last season that the player was one of several young Saints who had their name tentatively linked with a move to “a bigger club”. With Bacary Sagna deciding to leave the Emirates this summer, his French compatriot from Newcastle (Mathieu Debuchy) replacing him and speculation over the immediate future of rightback Carl Jenkinson, the rightback spot at Arsenal has been the subject of speculation.
Carl Jenkinson is to many a real fan favourite. He’s a “proper Gooner”, a fan of the club, he probably sleeps in Arsenal pyjamas. But in terms of ability he divides opinion. He’s a real athlete, committed, has pace and a good cross on him (a collectors item for an Arsenal fullback), but positionally he’s had issues and perhaps most worryingly, he has a tendency to go to pieces if and when he makes a mistake.
Fans will understandably question the decision (if it is the case that Arsenal are to sign Cambers) to jettison Jenkinson for a 19 year old with 1 full Premier League season under his belt. The counter-argument would be that the 19 year old has played consistently well in the Premier League in his debut season and logic says that he’ll only improve. Playing under Wenger, a man famed for developing young talent and training alongside of the likes of Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and co will surely only be of huge benefit to the player?
The fact that Chambers has the attributes to apply himself as a centreback is no bad thing. Granted, you could play Devil’s advocate and suggest messing around with a developing players position (certainly for a defender) could lead to “Phil Jones syndrome”, a developing player becomes a Jack of all trades and master of none. But in terms of tinkering with a player both tactically and technically, if the ability is there, Wenger will (9-times-out-of-10) get the best out of them.
Inevitably Saints fans will be loathed to lose young Chambers. With uncertainty at board level and the recent departure of manager Mauricio Pochettino to Tottenham, they suffered further blows in losing their established performers with both Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert making the journey North to join Liverpool. Speculation over the future of defender Dejan Lovren (wanted by Liverpool) and midfield lynchpin Morgan Schneiderlin (heavily linked with both Arsenal & Spurs) means that new boss, Dutchman Ronald Koeman, may well have to do some major surgery to his team in the transfer market before the window closes at midnight on September 1st.
From an Arsenal point of view, signing a much lauded, young English rightback will surely not put too many noses out of joint (except maybe Carl Jenkinson’s). Nothing has been confirmed by either Arsenal, Southampton, the player or his representatives. But there’s plenty of smoke, we’ll soon see if there’s any fire.
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