When Calum Chambers arrived at Arsenal last summer, he had a great deal of expectation surrounding him, despite still only being a teenager. First team football was not the initial expectation, but when called upon he proved to be competent and more than sufficient in covering at centre-back in the Community Shield as well as right-back frequently, showing maturity well beyond his age. His career not only glistened at club level, his first month at Arsenal saw his first call-up for England and in October his first England start against San Marino at Wembley. His move to Arsenal seemed to be enhancing his career in every way imaginable and his future in North London seemed incredibly bright and prosperous.
Stoke City away is never a game Arsenal fans look forward to in the fixture calendar. Chambers undeniably has a habit for picking up yellow cards; by the Stoke City game in December, he had managed to pick up seven bookings. A sending off contributed to a woeful Arsenal display at The Britannia, a dismal loss and an early low point in the season for The Gunners.
Chambers himself still featured regularly in the squad after this, but by the end of the season he became used to a spot on the bench rather than a starting spot. Although his versatility and more than adequate ability to cover the needs of various positions makes him an ideal squad player to have, his starting place seems to have been slowly lost.
What Next For Calum Chambers?
Hector Bellerin is the main reason why Chambers cannot regain his place in the side. Only a couple of months separates the pair in age and it’s important to remember that at just twenty both players have developed rapidly. Bellerin’s dominance in the position was perhaps a little unexpected, reflected by Arsenal’s signing of Mathieu Debuchy and indeed Chambers himself; the two were originally signed as right-backs. It seems unlikely Arsene Wenger will have been unaware of Bellerin’s potential, but even he may have been surprised by his almost seamless transition into becoming a first team player. The issue for Calum Chambers is that the right-back position is already well-filled; once Debuchy returns, it will be most difficult to gain that position in the starting lineup.
Wenger is wary of this position being overcrowded and has spoke about other possibilities for Chambers. Prior to Arsenal’s last league defeat of the season against Swansea, he explored his potential to play elsewhere, saying: “I believe that Calum will be a centre-back more than a right-back and I want to develop him more as a centre-back — even a central midfielder.” Chambers still faces stern competition in both areas but it seems like a logical positional move to employ.
The issue is clear to see though. A player who has developed professionally at right-back needs considerable game time in another position to adapt there. Will Chambers get this in a central midfield position? The answer is probably no, or at least not without injuries to players already occupying these positions. Francis Coquelin seems extremely capable in a central defensive midfield role as well and it seems unlikely that any other midfielder will have his place sacrificed to accommodate the young Englishman.
It’s very easy to forget Chambers is still only 20 years old. It’s also very easy to forget mistakes are an integral part of development and an inevitability in any young player’s game. His performances in an Arsenal shirt at times made him look far more experienced than his age suggests and this should give Arsenal fans hope.
Selection headaches like these are welcome ones for managers. Wenger has made it clear Chambers is still part of his plans: “We want to keep him here next season. He won’t go out on loan”.
Chambers will still be representing his national team at under-21 level, alongside a player Wenger did send out on loan in Carl Jenkinson. Whilst it may be difficult to incorporate Chambers into the team next season it’s refreshing to see the defence have some depth to it; Calum Chambers’ ability to start in it or anywhere else relies purely on his continued development.
A loan move may be off the cards, but more game time shouldn’t be ruled out. Chambers is likely only to get better as a player at Arsenal and given the opportunity has already proved his worth. Those keeping him out of a place in the team are good young players like Coquelin and Bellerin, who themselves have developed at exceptional pace. Arsenal fans can take heart in the fact there is other young talent waiting in the wings and with injuries there is adequate cover more so than in the past.
Chambers will need to continue to take the opportunities he gets and be patient in fulfilling his desire for a consistent first team place. Arsenal have a great habit of developing young players under Wenger and there is no reason why Calum Chambers cannot be yet another success story at the club.
