Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright believes that it is time for Calum Chambers to look at opportunities elsewhere after not being in the first choice starting line-up under Arsene Wenger for the 2016-17 season.
The former Southampton defender was brought to the club in the summer of 2014 for a fee of around £ 14 million. However, his presence at Arsenal has coincided with a problematic time in terms of injuries. As a result, Wenger has had to dig deep into the squad of players and many of them have had to play in a number of positions.
Chambers is widely seen as a player who was badly affected as a result of being played in a number of positions across the back four. After making 36 appearances in all competitions in his first season at the club, the 21-year-old went on to make only 22 appearances last season. This included a run of just 12 games in the Premier League, which seemed to suggest that Wenger had lost faith in the player. Even though the player still has age on his side, it became clear that Wenger does not fancy him anymore when the club signed Rob Holding from Bolton Wanderers in the summer for just £ 2 million.
Holding is now the preferred choice due to the injuries to Per Mertesacker and Gabriel.“I feel sorry for Calum Chambers. Someone we paid £16m for.I mentioned Calum should move on but I’m saying it for Calum’s sake and his own career.He has Holding who has come from Bolton and he is in front of Chambers now. When all the centre-halves come back, he is fourth choice. It doesn’t make sense for him to be staying there,” said Wright. The arrival of Mustafi for £ 35 million has only sealed the fate for Chambers.
