Will On-Loan Middlesbrough Defender Calum Chambers Ever Make It at Arsenal?

Two years ago, Calum Chambers was regarded as one of the most exciting young prospects in English football.

Having joined Arsenal from Southampton in July 2014, his development accelerated to the point that he had made his full England debut by September. Injuries to more senior players meant that he was playing fairly regularly at the heart of the Arsenal defence and seemed destined to become a key component of the Gunners squad. 

However, things did not go entirely to plan.

A spell at right-back proved costly to both his reputation and his confidence—in one match against Swansea in November 2014, Chambers took such a roasting from Ecuador international winger Jefferson Montero that Arsene Wenger has never really entrusted him in that position again. Instead, Hector Bellerin has come to the fore, and Chambers is now thought of primarily as a central player. 

With Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny firmly established as the first-choice defensive partnership over the past couple of years, Chambers has largely had to bide his time. The subsequent signings of Gabriel Paulista, Rob Holding and Shkodran Mustafi have not helped matters.

With competition for places now fierce in north London, Chambers has been loaned to Premier League newcomers Middlesbrough to gain some much-needed first-team experience.

When Aitor Karanka’s men visit the Emirates Stadium this weekend, Chambers will be forced to watch from the stands—an experience that has become all too familiar for him in recent years.

The question now is: Will Chambers' time with Middlesbrough enable him to return to Arsenal and develop into a top player, or is this loan spell the first sign that his time with the Gunners could be coming to a close?

The case for the defence

Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

It would be foolish to write Chambers off entirely. A year ago, Wenger spoke about his enduring belief that the former Southampton man would become a top international defender in time, per ESPN:

"

Calum can play in midfield, he can play central defender. I think in the future he will certainly be a central defender, but he can also play right back.

That versatility will help him in the future because he will tactically know more about the game, he will be technically better prepared and physically he will be at the top, top level. I'm confident that Calum will be a successful England player.

"

Chambers has the physical and technical attributes you would expect of an elite defender. He is tall and powerful, if somewhat lacking in pace.

His greatest strength is arguably his composure on the ball. One of the things that’s tempted Wenger to try Chambers in holding midfield is his ability to distribute the ball under pressure. However, he invariably looks more comfortable at centre-half, where he is able to face the play.  

There is plenty of time for him to improve. Chambers does not turn 22 until January 2016, and in the life of a defender, that’s particularly early. By way of example, it’s worth looking at Manchester United’s Chris Smalling—he has really begun to fulfil his potential in the last two years, and he’ll be 27 next month. 

The thing Chambers needs most is time on the pitch. That’s how he’ll iron out the mistakes that have punctuated his performances over the past two years. At Middlesbrough, he should get the chance to learn and grow and could return to Arsenal a superior player.

Chambers’ challenges

The greatest issue facing Chambers is the sheer wealth of competition in the Arsenal squad. Mustafi has settled immediately alongside Koscielny in the centre of the defence, and at just 24, he is not going anywhere in a hurry.  

Tim Ireland/Associated Press

The arrival of Holding also offers a real threat to Chambers’ place. The former Bolton man is younger and seemingly more trustworthy, as Wenger picked him over Chambers for Arsenal’s 0-0 draw with Premier League champions Leicester City back in August.

Mertesacker may be headed towards the end of his Arsenal career, but in Koscielny, Gabriel, Mustafi and Holding, Arsenal have a quartet of defenders who look able to continue for some years yet. Chambers’ biggest problem could be finding room to break through.

Temporary Spell on Teesside 

Frank Augstein/Associated Press

At this early stage, Middlesbrough looks to have been a very sensible move for Chambers.

Crucially, Karanka was a top centre-half himself, and he told Luke Edwards of the Telegraph that he intends to harness that experience to help Chambers better himself over the coming months:

"

I hope I can bring out the best in him … I brought him here to help him because at the end of the season, the main thing is that we can stay in the Premier League and Calum can go back to Arsenal as a better player.

I think when you are his age you need to play to keep learning. I spoke with him and he understood the best thing for his career was to come here, and to keep growing. For that reason I was really pleased. I knew he had a lot of offers.

"

The player himself stated that he’s a huge fan of the Spanish manager and his methods, per Anthony Vickers of the Gazette:

"

I came here because of the manager and the team and the way they play the game. I felt this was the best place to come and develop myself as a player, to learn and to play games.

The manager was a centre-half and I thought it would be good to learn from someone who had played in that position at the highest level.

The training, the intensity and the detail the manager goes into, that has been the main thing for me. The tactical detail we go into on the opposition we have that weekend is amazing. It is very useful.

It’s nice being able to do that during the week, studying the strengths and weaknesses of the players you are likely to be up against, how they play and how we prepare, what we can work on, on beating them. Going into games with that kind of information is really good. 

"

There’s an implication there that the nature of Middlesbrough’s preparation is very different to Arsenal’s—and that could benefit Chambers.

Arsenal has never been a great breeding ground for young centre-backs. The likes of Philippe Senderos, Johan Djourou and Matthew Upson all arrived in north London with huge potential but never prospered under Wenger’s tutelage. He is great at forging the careers of attackers, but his best defenders have largely been recruited with significant experience under their belts.

It’s possible that a temporary spell with a club like Middlesbrough—with a greater focus on defending—could be precisely what Chambers needs. 

He has already pushed past Daniel Ayala into the Middlesbrough first team and appears to be establishing himself as one of Karanka’s key players.

Conclusion

It’s difficult to give a definitive response as to whether Chambers will "make it" at Arsenal—much will depend on his personal ambitions.

Given the wealth of competition and their respective ages, it has to be deemed unlikely that he’ll ever nail down a place as a regular first-choice selection. However, his versatility could make him a valuable squad member. As an Englishman, he’d also contribute towards Arsenal’s homegrown quota.

If Chambers comes back to Arsenal next summer, it won’t be as a starter. He may have to decide what he values more: regular football or a place with a Champions League club. Chambers has the quality to play for Arsenal—but probably not every week.

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and will be following the club from a London base throughout 2016/17. Follow him on Twitter here.