Calum Chambers goes on loan to Middlesbrough

Arsenal have officially announced that young defender Calum Chambers will go out on loan to Middlesbrough for the 2016-17 season, hopefully to get some steady Premier League minutes and continue the development that’s somewhat stalled since his first season with the Gunners.

When the deal was rumored yesterday, I said this:

It’s probably for the best for all parties, long-term – with Laurent Koscielny, Rob Holding, and soon Shkodran Mustafi, Arsenal have three center backs currently ready and able to play. With Per Mertesacker returning in a few months, that’s four, and there’s not a lot of room in there for Calum. He could possibly get some playing time at right back, but honestly he’s not great there.

Mustafi (still) hasn’t been officially announced, but overall I haven’t changed my mind in the past 24 hours or so. If Chambers is able to play regularly at the highest level, we’ll at least know whether or not there’s a real player there – and with any luck, he’ll take the next step and be able to challenge for a first team spot at Arsenal.