Mertesacker replacement? Arsenal set to complete transfer of 6ft 2″ tall CB

Barely twenty days to the opening of the winter transfer window on January 2, a loan move to Everton seems to be in the offing for out-of-favour Arsenal’s centre back, Calum Chambers. Roberto Martinez is reportedly keen on landing the England international on a season-long loan as a possible temporary replacement for highly-rated and wanted defender, John Stones. Stones was the subject of failed bids from Chelsea during the summer window, and it appears more likely that spirited attempts will be made to lure him away from Goodison Park.

Chambers joined Arsenal from Southampton (who wanted him on loan last summer) for £16 million and enjoyed a run of first team opportunities in the first half of the 2014/2015 campaign.

He has, however, found playing time hard to come by after falling down the pecking order at the Emirates. In central defence, Per Mertersacker, Laurent Koscielny and Gabriel are preferred to the England under 21, while Hector Bellerin and Mathieu Debuchy get the nod ahead of him at right back.

Arsene Wenger had, after the rejected loan switch to Southampton, stated that Chambers would be better off learning from the established pair of Mertersacker and Koscielny than at St Mary’s. This, however, has not materialized into regular game time and consistency as expected. Experience has shown time and over again that improvement in form requires playing regularly and gaining more and more confidence on the pitch. Based on this premise, a season at Goodison Park and under Roberto Martinez might just be what Chambers’ career badly needs.