The Arsenal youngster Calum Chambers came to Arsenal as a right-back from Southampton, but Arsene Wenger seems to have the idea of turning him into a versatile player and was originally training him as a central defender and more recently giving him lessons in the central midfield.
In yesterday’s game against Burnley, he started in Hector Bellerin’s position and emulated the Spaniard by getting up the field as much as possible and even scored the opening goal. Chambers himself believes that his versatility will give him more chance of playing more often. “I want to be in the first team now,” he said on Arsenal.com. “I’m training as hard as I can and learning and you take it on the chin. I’m pleased with how things have gone.
“I’m learning in the background. I’m not playing as much and I’m getting on in a few games. I feel like I’m learning in training and watching players in my positions. I have started training in that holding midfield role and played a few games there which was enjoyable.
“I still see myself as centre back and maybe a holding central midfielder. It gives you an opportunity to play. If you are [able to play] in different positions it gives you more of a chance to play and having the knowledge where you want the ball in different positions.
“I’m just concentrating on getting games and training hard and trying to get myself in the squad and the team. I’m just trying to make myself stronger and get nearer the team and things like that. You can’t let yourself get frustrated and you have to remain focused. You have to keep your eye on the goal and concentrate on yourself.”
If Burnley get promoted this season, perhaps Wenger should consider playing Chambers as the striker next year as he seems to like playing against them! “My only two goals have come against Burnley,” Calum continued. “I actually thought about it yesterday! I thought I might sneak a goal and I did.
“It is one of those ones which you do on the training ground. It just came to me and I thought I’d give it a go. It went into the side netting so it was pretty good.
“I watch [Alexis] in training and took a bit of advice and had a go at it. It went in so it was good.
So if Matthieu Debuchy finally sorts out his move away today, I would expect to see Chambers on the bench more often as cover for Bellerin, but also with the option of playing in many other positions in an emergency. Has he now done enough to prove he’s good nough for Arsenal’s first team?