Arsenal Vs Bournemouth: What happens with Calum Chambers now?

Calum Chambers was Arsenal’s best player in Sunday’s 1-0 win over Bournemouth. But with Hector Bellerin returning, what happens with the fill-in right-back now?

You would be forgiven for thinking that Calum Chambers’ career in north London was over. He failed to establish himself in Arsenal’s first-team rotation, was then loaned out to Fulham for the year, with Unai Emery seemingly choosing Rob Holding over him, and returned to the club with Dinos Mavropanos, David Luiz and, eventually, William Saliba in competition for places.

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But so far this season, Chambers has been excellent. He started in the season-opening 1-0 win over Newcastle United. He then moved to right-back in the Europa League and EFL Cup, impressing on every outing, especially in the 5-0 win over Nottingham Forest. And on Sunday, in a 1-0 win over Bournemouth, he put in his best performance of the year thus far.

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Chambers started in Hector Bellerin’s stead once more. Up against Josh King, who is the type of quick forward that has caused the right-back Chambers troubles in the past, Chambers defended excellently, reading the game superbly, making several critical interventions, including one clearance off the line in the second half to help protect the clean sheet.

He was also amazingly involved throughout, especially for a full-back. He had more touches than any other player, made more passes than any other player, attempted more tackles than any other player, made more clearances bar Granit Xhaka, and provided a terrific outlet throughout the match, with his physical presence crucial when Arsenal looked a little more direct off goal kicks and deep clearances.

Based on this performance, Chambers does not deserve to lose his starting spot. But there are clear limitations to his game that negate his long-term right-back prospects. He does not possess the physical skill set to play the position in the modern game, lacking the straight-line speed and short-area quickness and balance that is required.

Bellerin, meanwhile, is the quintessential modern-day right-back. Quick, offensive, creative, the Spaniard is ideally suited for the position, far more so than Chambers. And despite Chambers’ excellent recent performances, there is no feasible way that Bellerin will not return to the starting XI once he is fit and firing following his recovery from an ACL tear.

So what happens with Chambers now? Does he continue to fight for the right-back role, with Ainsley Maitland-Niles also lurking? Could he fight for a centre-back position, even though Emery seems distrusting of his ability there, insistent that Holding, Sokratis and Luiz are better suited? Or might he even move into the midfield, where he played so excellently for Fulham last season?

At this point, it is difficult to say. But two things are clear: Chambers’ performances deserve to be rewarded; that reward will not be the starting right-back position.