A Progress Report on Arsenal Summer Signing Calum Chambers

After half a season at Arsenal, it's time to take a look at Calum Chambers' Gunners career to date.

The teenage defender arrived with a glowing reputation and a hefty price tag. However, few could have expected him to have played quite so much football this early on in his time with Arsenal; Chambers has already made 28 appearances this season. Of Arsenal's outfield players, only Per Mertesacker, Santi Cazorla and Alexis Sanchez have started more games.

In this piece, we run the rule over Chambers' defensive skills, attacking attributes and ideal role before before awarding him a grade based on his first half-season at the Emirates Stadium. Read on to discover the verdict.

Which Position?

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Arsenal have already been forced to make full use of Calum Chambers' versatility, and he has already figured in three different positions this season.

He was ostensibly bought as a right-back, with his acquisition precipitating the departure of Carl Jenkinson to West Ham United. However, with Laurent Koscielny suffering from a chronic Achilles problem, Chambers was soon pressed into action as an emergency centre-half. He impressed there and effectively became Arsenal's default back-up in that position.

However, on his return to Southampton, we saw Chambers moved into a midfield role. That is the position he played in his mid-teens, and some believe that is where he will end up.

According to WhoScored, in the Premier League and Champions League this season, Chambers has played 14 games at right-back, one in holding midfield and four at centre-half.

Verdict: It looks as if Chambers' future will be as a right-sided centre-back. Although the majority of his experience has come as a right-back, his lack of pace can occasionally be exposed on the flank. In the middle, he is able to use his positional instincts and natural authority to protect himself. 

However, his partnership with Per Mertesacker is an awkward one, largely because it forces Mertesacker to play out of position on the left of centre. It's no coincidence that Chamber's most assured performance to date, in the Community Shield against Manchester City, came alongside Laurent Koscielny.

Defending

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Like any young defender, Chambers has much to learn about his craft.

He's not the quickest, which can leave him vulnerable against speedy opponents. Swansea City's Jefferson Montero took delight in dismantling Chambers, who took a couple of weeks to recover his confidence after that particular mauling.

He can also be somewhat rash in his tackling. He picked up five bookings before the end of September and was sent off for two bookable offences in the defeat at Stoke City.

However, he is clearly a capable man-marker. He also has a wonderful gift of being able to tackle and move away from the opposition in a single movement, enabling him to quickly launch counter-attacks from the back.

Verdict: Chambers has most of the requisite attributes of any good defender. What he lacks is experience. The fear is that Arsenal may not be the ideal environment for a young defender to learn his trade.

Attacking

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Calum Chambers has two assists and a single goal to his name so far this season.

Playing as an attacking full-back, he might have contributed more. Chambers effectively replaced Carl Jenkinson, who was actually one of the better crossers at the club. Chambers needs to add more consistency to his delivery from wide positions.

He is good on the ball but has a tendency to dwell in possession too long, which means he can be caught out by nippy defenders.

Verdict: It's clear Chambers has superb technique, but he needs to use it better to offer more from an attacking point of view. His distribution at centre-half is decent enough, but when playing as a full-back, he could certainly offer a greater threat in the final third.

Grade: B

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Chambers has suffered some teething problems at Arsenal, but the scale of his achievement shouldn't be overlooked. With only a handful of senior appearances under his belt, he arrived at a club and slipped relatively seamlessly in to a team competing at the elite level of the Champions League.

He stills needs to learn how to guard against exposing his weaknesses, but his development continues apace. In the years to come, the initial investment made in Chambers may prove to be bargain.

Grade: B