Arsenal: Calum Chambers contract the sign of redemption

Calum Chambers agreed to a new two-year contract on Wednesday, and Arsene Wenger, in his pre-match press conference on Thursday, stated that he is now entering a time when he can blossom. The 22-year-old defender has found redemption, and is in a position to build a foundation for his Arsenal career.

I have a confession to make. As soon as Calum Chambers was loaned out to Middlesbrough last season, with Rob Holding taking his place as the ‘highly-touted youngster’ in the squad, I believed his Arsenal career to be over, even at the young age of 21. A little over a year later, and it seems as though I was wrong.

Related Story: Arsenal: 3 questions Calum Chambers' contract answers

The reason why I thought his stay in North London over is because of the tendencies of Arsene Wenger. He usually uses the loan system in two ways: to develop young players — young being under 20 and often times closer to 17 and 18 –; to rid of players that he no longer wants at the club but cannot agree on a permanent sale.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 observations from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park

I recognised Chambers as a member of the latter. However, on Wednesday, it was announced that the now 22-year-old, who has now returned to the Emirates and was obviously a reason for Wenger selling Gabriel Paulista, had agreed to a new two-year extension, keeping him at the club until 2021. Additionally, when asked about Chambers’ new deal, Wenger stated that this is a time when Chambers can ‘blossom’:

"“He’s a young centre back and you know that he’s going towards his best period now. He played a complete season at Middlesbrough -on loan last year]. Unfortunately at the moment, he’s injured, but I believe it’s important we keep our young centre-backs because they blossom at 24. It’s important to keep them during that period.”"

The contract comes as a sign of ‘redemption’ for Chambers. As an aside, it’s not actually redemption if Wenger always saw this trajectory for his career. I just assumed that much, probably wrongly, when he was loaned out to Middlesbrough.

He is now entering his third season at the club, and as Wenger rightly states, the time is coming where Chambers will have to prove that he is ready for a full-starting workload. Few doubt his natural talent. He is strong in stature, smart in his positioning, and wonderfully composed on the ball.

But questions do remain over his consistency and his reliability. Will he make silly mistakes that cost the team points? Will he suffer lapses in concentration as a younger player? Can he be resilient and determined when the going gets tough?

Next: Arsenal Vs Watford: Predicted starting XI

These are questions that are yet to be answered. But Wenger is willing to find out those answers over the coming years. Chambers is very much back in the thinking of his manager, and it will be fascinating to see where that takes him.