Arsenal news: Calum Chambers primed to fill midfield role in crucial Champions League game with Olympiakos

Calum Chambers has been undergoing an intense programme of preparation in the past week to familiarise himself with playing central midfield ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League decider against Olympiakos on Wednesday.

• How can United, Arsenal and Chelsea qualify?

Although Aaron Ramsey and Mathieu Flamini are almost certain to start in Athens, Arsène Wenger has lost four other central midfielders to injury. The Arsenal manager now regards Chambers as his main back-up and a player who will need to feature in that position during a sequence of six matches in less than four weeks.

Aaron Ramsey is expected to start in Greece on Wednesday

Chambers has started only once in midfield since joining Arsenal 17 months ago when he struggled in a 2-0 defeat against Southampton on New Year’s Day, but Wenger and his staff have been specifically coaching him in that role since Santi Cazorla ruptured his knee ligaments against Norwich City nine days ago. As well as working on the training ground, Chambers played in midfield for the Under-21 team last Tuesday and also came on as a substitute during the last 10 ­minutes of the 3-1 win against Sunderland on Saturday.

• Arsenal may have to sacrifice Europe to win Premier League

Wenger had previously always started Chambers, 20, as a centre-back this season – and the player feels most comfortable in that ­position – but he does believe that he has the technical attributes to fill in until either Mikel Arteta or Jack Wilshere return from injury or the club recruit in January.

Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, knows his side must beat Olympiakos

Francis Coquelin, another long-term absentee, and Cazorla are unlikely to return much before the spring but Wilshere is due back in January. A major question mark also con­tinues to hang over ­whether Arteta can again play at full inten­sity amid a series of calf injuries. Although Wenger has money an dan interest in the Sporting Lisbon midfielder William Carvalho, the club’s scouts are focused on loan solutions in January.

Wenger is likely to make few changes on Wednesday from the team that defeated Sunderland although Theo Walcott is expected to start in one of the front three positions in place of Joel Campbell, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain or Olivier Giroud.

Olivier Giroud scored for both sides on Saturday, but is expected to start in Athens

Arsenal must win either by two clear goals or score at least three times in a one-goal victory to ­pro­gress to the last 16 of the Champions League for what would be a 16th successive year.

Olympiakos have a perfect record of 12 consecutive wins domestically but Bayern Munich did come to Athens and win 3-0 in September.

Koscielny is the best defender in the Premier League, insists Ferdinand

The former England and Manchester United star has been impressed with the Frenchman's performances at the heart of the Arsenal defence this season

Laurent Koscielny has developed into the best central defender in the Permier League, according to Rio Ferdinand.

The France international was at his commanding best alongside Per Mertesacker on Wednesday night as Arsenal secured a 3-0 win over Olympiacos that booked their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League.

The 29-year-old has added a level of consistency to his game that has been missing in previous seasons and his form has caught the eye of former Champions League winner Ferdinand. 
"Laurent Koscielny, when he's on form, he's the best defender in the league for me,” Ferdinand told BT Sport.

"He's one of those you don't want to play against – he's quick, he's aggressive."

Koscielny and Mertesacker aside, Ferdinand still feels Arsenal’s defence needs adding to in January when the transfer window reopens with Calum Chambers and Gabriel not yet up to the mark required.

"I think they need some more cover in the central defensive area,” he added. 

Photo: Arsenal starlet Calum Chambers ready for England duty

Calum Chambers is off on England Under-21 duty

Calum Chambers has taken to social media to reveal his excitement ahead of joining up with the England Under-21s on Thursday.

The defender looked chilled out as he headed to meet up with the Three Lions’ U21s on a sunny Thursday morning.

Chambers posted the picture above on his personal Instagram account and wrote: “Off to meet up with the england U21’s

England’s Under-21 side are preparing for their European Championship qualifier against Kazakhstan on Tuesday.

Chambers has been limited to two Premier League appearances for Arsenal so far this season. His last appearance for the north London club came in the 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the third round of the League Cup last month.

He will be hoping to be involved when Arsenal return to top-flight action with a trip to Watford on 17 October after the international break.

Arsenal’s win over Manchester United last weekend left the Gunners in second place in the table and two points behind leaders Manchester City.

Watch Calum Chambers’ and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s brilliant warm-up before Arsenal v Manchester United

• Calum Chambers might not be an obvious choice when it comes to picking the most technically skilled players at Arsenal, but this warm-up with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain proves he’s got some serious skills.
• Ahead of Arsenal’s 3-0 demolition of Manchester United, the pair warmed up with some long range volleys, and it’s strangely hypnotic to watch.
• Of the pair, only Chamberlain played any part in the match, getting on for the last 15 minutes, and it just goes to demonstrate the depth of quality in Arsene Wenger’s squad.
• 
• Fair play boys! (Picture: Getty)
• 

Arsenal: Calum Chambers credits Arsene Wenger for his development

Calum Chambers insists that Arsene Wenger has played a massive role in his development since arriving at the Emirates from Southampton in 2014. The England international had a torrid time when given his first start of the season against Liverpool following the unavailability of Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny but has composed himself in the past few weeks and has put in a good show in the subsequent games he has been deployed in.

The defender can play in the centre of defence or at right back but needs more experience and game time to establish himself in the first eleven. Chambers revealed that Wenger talks to him throughout training and also gives him confidence at half time during a game to go out there and play his best football.

"I'd probably say the best piece of advice the boss has given me is just to relax and enjoy myself in games," Chambers told Arsenal's official website. "Before the game or at half-time he would tell me to relax, to just play with confidence and enjoy it.

"I probably think that's the best advice he's given me because it helped me in my game. I can then relax, go onto the pitch and express myself which is useful.

"He's improved me massively. Over the past year I think I've improved in my game a lot. He goes through little things with me on the pitch and individual stuff. He gives me advice so over the past year my game has improved massively."

The manager has come under immense pressure over the past week for his team selection against Olympiacos, which led them to lose at home against the Greek champions. The Gunners are without a single point in the group stages of the Champions League and are currently stationed bottom behind the likes of Dinamo Zagreb.

Their double header against Bayern Munich will play a major role in shaping their destiny for qualification into the round of 16 later in October. The Gunners shall now face Manchester United in a league game at the Emirates on 4 October where a win can see them go on top of the league should other results fall their way.

Calum Chambers reveals Arsene Wenger has told him to "relax" as he bids to cement Arsenal first-team place

The 22-year-old is highly-regarded at the Emirates after his move from Southampton despite a couple of difficult outings this season.

Word of advice: Chambers has thanked Wenger for his influence on his career

Calum Chambers has revealed the simple but effective advice which he was given by Arsene Wenger .

The young England defender was quite simply told to "relax" on the pitch after his move to Arsenal - and to make sure he is enjoying himself while playing.

According to the 22-year-old, that was the most important advice that manager Wenger gave him since his move from Southampton in 2014.

In his time at Arsenal, he has opened his Premier League scoring account while also earning international acclaim from Roy Hodgson.

But he credited Wenger for allowing younger players to develop.

Inspirational: Wenger gave Chambers vital advice

Chambers told the club's official website: “I’d probably say the best piece of advice the boss has given me is just to relax and enjoy myself in games.

“Before the game or at half-time he would tell me to relax, to just play with confidence and enjoy it.

“I probably think that’s the best advice he’s given me because it helped me in my game. I can then relax, go onto the pitch and express myself which is useful.

“He’s improved me massively. Over the past year I think I’ve improved in my game a lot. He goes through little things with me on the pitch and individual stuff. He gives me advice so over the past year my game has improved massively.”

Chambers says that his decision to leave Southampton for Arsenal was helped by Wenger's track record for developing youngsters.

Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were both products of the successful Saints academy before moving over to the Emirates.

“It was a massive factor,” he said. “Theo and Alex came from Southampton as well, and they’ve both come through to the first team.

"He’s renowned for bringing young players through and developing them. That was a big factor in why I chose to come here, to work with him. I haven’t regretted it one bit.

Lithuania vs England: Calum Chambers highlights hit and miss nature of early international baptisms

Not all of England’s young talents have thrived from the off

When England kick-off for their final European Championship Group E qualifier against Lithuania, it will be a year to the day since Calum Chambers last represented his country at senior level. Three days earlier, in 2014, Chambers had been handed his first start by Roy Hodgson as a right-back after three encouraging months at Arsenal.

• Kane wastes chance to press his case against Estonia

Chambers has been replaced by Dele Alli as Hodgson’s latest wildcard pick and, as the Tottenham Hotspur teenager hopes to start in Vilnius, it remains a point of debate as to whether the England manager and the Football Association are offering the country’s youngsters the best development or flipping coins in the hope that enough prove to be the right call.

Dele Alli made his England debut against Estonia

Certainly the Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger, felt that it was the wrong call over Chambers, and the 20-year-old player is still yet to recover from experiencing a speedy rise and fall at club and international level.

Undoubtedly restricted by the sparse number of experienced English players starting regularly for Premier League clubs, Hodgson has not been afraid to throw youngsters in at the deep end. The first was Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who had started just six Premier League games for Arsenal when he was called up to the last European Championship squad in 2012.

More than three years on and Oxlade-Chamberlain, 22, should win his 24th England cap in Lithuania, which looks like a good progression. But there is a fear that his development has stalled. He is still yet to score a goal away from home for Arsenal, despite the fact he is now in his fifth season at the club, and he has netted just six Premier League goals in his career and managed one more assist.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could earn his 24th England cap on Monday night  Photo: REX FEATURES

Injuries have played a big part in Oxlade-Chamberlain’s sparse return and it will not have helped his physical development that he did not have a break after his first full season as an Arsenal player, thanks to his participation in the Euros.

Once Euro 2012 was out of the way, Hodgson took a gamble on Wilfried Zaha, who was playing in the Championship for Crystal Palace. Ian Holloway, who was Palace manager at the time, accused Hodgson and the FA of picking Zaha to convince the then 20-year-old to turn his back on the Ivory Coast. Hodgson refuted the claim, but Zaha has only appeared for England once more since being given six minutes as a substitute against Sweden and is now rebuilding his career back at Palace after a demoralising spell at Manchester United.

Raheem Sterling made his full international debut in Sweden and has proved that some teenagers can cope with being accelerated into the senior side. The forward is a success story for Hodgson and his strength of character was underlined by how hard he fought to leave Liverpool for Manchester City.

Raheem Sterling (right) made his debut in 2012, 17

John Stones has also shown that he has the temperament, and the talent, to cope with playing for England and the increased interest that comes with it, the defender having maintained performance levels at Everton after a summer transfer saga involving Chelsea.

Luke Shaw and Ross Barkley have given positive signals that they, too, will be vital England players long past Hodgson’s era, but it is questionable whether or not the duo initially benefited from being taken to the World Cup in Brazil. Shaw returned late for his first pre-season as a Manchester United player and the left-back could not regain full fitness, while Barkley’s confidence appeared to take a knock after being criticised by Hodgson for taking too many risks.

Harry Kane had almost a full successful season in the Premier League under his belt before getting the call from Hodgson, but the striker also has to deal with being made the poster boy for the FA chairman Greg Dyke’s home‑grown player campaign.

So on to 19-year-old Alli, who made his England debut as a late substitute against Estonia last week and is in contention to start in Lithuania on the back of just four Premier League starts for Tottenham.

Tottenham's Alli is hoping to start against Lithuania this week

“People like Dele come in because an opportunity opened up for them with others injured,” Hodgson said. “It’s not a situation where, the moment you kick the ball correctly from A to B, you’ll get in the England team. It’s not like that at all.”

Are the kids all right?

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Debut May 26, 2012 (age 18) Caps 23
England’s good news story of the 2012 Euro finals, but the midfielder has not kicked on due to injury and confidence issues.
Verdict Jury out.

Wilfried Zaha
Debut Nov 14, 2012 (aged 20) Caps 2
Winger was not ready for the international limelight and his subsequent move to Manchester United, but is starting to show signs of a recovery back at Crystal Palace.
Verdict Miss.

Raheem Sterling
Debut Nov 14, 2012 (aged 17) Caps 17
Never far from controversy, but the forward has coped superbly well with his rapid rise and is already one of Hodgson’s key men.
Verdict Hit.

Ross Barkley
Debut Sept 6, 2013 (aged 19) Caps 16
A superb talent, he seemed inhibited by criticism from Hodgson over his decision- making but is now starting to show his best form again for club and country.
Verdict Jury out.

Luke Shaw
Debut March 5, 2014 (aged 18) Caps 6
Left-back suffered a disappointing first season at Manchester United after being taken to the World Cup thanks to issues over his fitness. Shaw has been struck by injury just as he seemed destined to fulfil his promise.
Verdict Jury out.

John Stones
Debut May 30, 2014 (aged 20) Caps 6
Everton manager Roberto Martínez has hailed him as a future England captain after watching the defender take his call-up and a failed attempt to move to Chelsea in his stride.
Verdict Hit.

Calum Chambers
Debut Sept 3, 2014 (aged 19) Caps 3
Thrust into international football far too soon. Has suffered crisis of confidence and loss of form at Arsenal.
Verdict Miss.

Harry Kane
Debut March 27, 2015 (aged 21) Caps 5
Tottenham striker scored just 80 seconds into his debut and went to the Under-21 Championships. Fears of burn-out remain.
Verdict Hit.

Dele Alli
Debut Oct 9, 2015 (aged 19) Caps 1
Injuries in midfield have handed Alli an England chance far sooner than he would have expected. Has made just four league starts and spent last season in League One.
Verdict Jury out.