Arsenal, Everton and Calum Chambers loan: Just have a think

According to Tom Thorogood of HITC, Everton should make a loan move for Arsenal’s Calum Chambers. All he needs to do is have a think.

There are many fairly foolish articles and media outlets. Many may think that is one of them. I am sure that everyone can think of examples of misguided and inaccurate reporting that often infuriates rather than edifies. But, every now and then, there is an especially enraging article or piece of analysis that just makes the blood boil a little because of its stupidity.

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I had this experience on Saturday morning. I was perusing the recent news of Arsenal, the relentless stream of unfounded transfer rumours, the potential incomings and outgoings, the comment of fans and journalists on the progress the club is making, and stumbled upon this joyous piece by Tom Thorogood of HITC.

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This is the premise of his argument: Everton have a gaping hole at centre-half thanks to the ageing pair of Phil Jagielka and Ashley Williams, the first-season struggles of Michael Keane after his £30-million move last summer, and the inexperience of Mason Holgate who is still developing as a potential first-team starter. They need to fill that hole and quickly. Calum Chambers, on a loan deal, would be the perfect individual to target as a cheap, young but relatively proven option.

And from an Everton perspective, his argument is quite coherent and logical. They do need help at the centre-half position and Chambers would be a player who could offer that at a fair price with extensive experience of the Premier League and playing in a possession-based, high-pressing system that can put a lot of stress on the centre-halves and that Marco Silva is likely to implement.

But that is where the rationale ends, I am afraid. Because to complete a transfer, you need the acceptance and compliance of all three parties: the buying club, the selling club, and the player himself. In this hypothetical situation, Thorogood has only considered the buying club.

Firstly, and most importantly, Arsenal have no interest in loaning out Chambers. The new four-year contract that was handed to the 23-year-old was the first sign of that Unai Emery sees great potential in him and would like to keep him as a challenger for a starting role. That was also supported by David Ornstein, who claimed that Emery rates the young defender highly, and with Laurent Koscielny out injured until December at the earliest, the depth that he provides will be required.

Secondly, there is no guarantee that Chambers would want to go to Everton on loan. He will turn 24 midway through the season. If he wants to establish his Arsenal career, then he needs to do so in this next season. It will be difficult to do that if he is on loan in Merseyside. That is not to say that he would point blank refuse to go, but Thorogood makes no mention of his own desire to leave the Emirates other than a short mention of being more likely to find first-team football under Silva than Emery.

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It just takes a little think to see that a loan move for Chambers will not happen this summer. Everton may want one. It may be ideal for them. But it’s just not going to happen, not with Everton or anyone else.