How Arsenal’s right-back transfer strategy impacts Cedric and Chambers

What Arsenal can get done in the summer transfer window remains an unsolved mystery until June comes around. Despite the world knowing what they need, what they can complete is another matter.

Every area of the pitch will be looked at in some manner, be it sounding out a new striker or deciding which one of Konstantinos Mavropanos or William Saliba will battle it out for a starting berth. That, and so, so much more.

Right-back is a position that will undergo change as Hector Bellerin looks set to depart for a new challenge elsewhere in Europe and Ainsley Maitland-Niles edges towards an inevitable departure as he looks to fulfill his ambition of playing in midfield.

If those two are to leave as expected, Mikel Arteta will be left with two options for the position if no additions are brought in. Given the tight budget the club are operating on and other areas of the pitch requiring urgent attention, it wouldn’t be unheard of to envisage Arsenal heading into the 2021/22 campaign with that pair.

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How Arsenal’s right-back transfer strategy could impact Cedric Soares and Calum Chambers next season

As per the Telegraph, however, in the eventuality of Bellerin leaving, Arsenal will look to sign a first-choice right-back.

What that says is that Arteta is not convinced Cedric Soares has the ability to be the regular fixture in the side, this despite recording the best winning percentage of all the options to have started matches this season.

It also infers that, despite two impressive displays against Burnley and West Ham – an admittedly minimal sample size following a long-term injury absence – that Calum Chambers is not vying for a starting berth at full-back either.

There is more that this transfer stance can mean, though.

Calum Chambers

He was called Cafu. Cafu.

Jamie Carragher went that far during the West Ham game, a slightly overzealous comparison but one that nonetheless brought attention to the superb shift Chambers was putting in on the right flank during that second half.

Irrespective of his two solid outings at right-back of late, the decision to sign another player for that position should Bellerin leave doesn’t immediately push Chambers to the exit door.

The John O’Shea of squad options for Arsenal, someone of the 26-year-old’s reliability and versatility is essential to every side. Able to slot in at central defence, play in a back three, cover at full-back and move into defensive midfield with ease, Arteta has every reason to keep hold of the long-serving defender next season.

With a host of players set for the exit door and whatever finance accrued likely to be largely spent on Martin Odegaard, saving money wherever possible will be high on the list of priorities.

Chambers’ contract expires in the summer of 2022 so the end of the season maybe seen as a final opportunity to cash in, but Arsenal could do far worse than tie him down for another couple of years and reassessing the situation come the end of 2021/22. Chambers fits the English quota, is reliable, knows the club, is actually a half-decent defender despite his lack of pace and offers a different option at right-back.

He could be sold, of course, but bringing in a replacement for Bellerin doesn’t rubber stamp a departure.