Arsenal: Calum Chambers defensive midfield role about flexibility, not future

Calum Chambers was fielded in defensive midfield for Arsenal against Boreham Wood on Saturday. The role, however, I believe, is about flexibility in the squad, not his own future.

Arsene Wenger often talked about the midfield upbringing that Calum Chambers enjoyed. When he played at centre-half for Arsenal, his comfortability on the ball, his ability to pierce opposition midfields with scything passes, his calmness under pressure and his spatial awareness of players around him all pointed towards a more cultured appreciation of the game than the traditional lump-it development of many of the English centre-halves of this day and age.

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That is what Wenger was referencing. But he never actually explored the possibility of Chambers the midfielder. The closest he ever got was fielding him at right-back. He hinted at it. On several occasions. But he never really tried it. Centre-back, for Wenger it seemed, was Chambers’ home.

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So it is significant, then, that in his very first game in charge as Arsenal head coach, Unai Emery decided to insert Chambers into the defensive midfield role that Wenger posited for some time. And after the game, Chambers, when asked about how he found his time in the new and potentially unfamiliar position, recognised the midfield upbringing that Wenger highlighted, while conceding that he will need time to adapt:

"“The manager spoke to me about the position. It’s a new one for me. I played there a little bit growing up. It’s a position I feel like I can grow to enjoy and out there today I felt good, I just need to train and practice in games in that position to get comfortable. But if you can get on it and you have time and it’s not a risk, turn and play forward and that’s the best way to get through a press.”"

It remains to be seen for how long Emery will wait for Chambers to truly understand the nuances of the position. Certainly, it would be foolish to expect him to be an expert after just one game against a team that lacked the quality to ever pose any challenge to him. But I do question whether this is merely a brief, summer fling, rather than a sustained and significant change.

Chambers was handed a new contract earlier this summer and Emery seems to see him as a key piece of his squad moving forward. It would be at odds if that contract was offered prior to seeing him play in the position that he would be playing in and earning such vast wages. Surely Emery would only sign off on a new contract for a player he had seen play in the position that he would use them in.

Moreover, Arsenal have just signed a new defensive midfielder in Lucas Torreira. Granit Xhaka is still there, as is Mohamed Elneny. All, however, are enjoying post-World Cup breaks. For this particular game, options at the position were somewhat limited.

Next: Arsenal Vs Boreham Wood: 3 players who impressed

Consequently, I believe that Chambers’ playing in defensive midfield was not a sign of his future, but rather a step towards flexibility. Emery wants cover at all of his positions throughout a long and arduous season. If Chambers can learn to play midfield in the summer, that offers greater cover. That, I believe, is the reasoning for his summer shift in role.