Arsenal defender Calum Chambers has admitted that the presence of Aitor Karanka and the expansive style of football the Spaniard wants to play was a key reason behind his decision to join Middlesbrough on loan.
The Gunners centre-half is adjudged as a rising star at the Emirates Stadium but the summer signing of Shkodran Mustafi all-but ended the former Southampton man’s chances of playing regularly this season.
As a result, Chambers opted to move to Teeside and seek Premier League action, with it looking likely that the England international will play a prominent role in the newly promoted outfit’s push to stay in the top flight this season.
The versatile defender will have had other options when deciding his temporary home for the next 12 months, but he has stated that Karanka’s presence was one of the key reasons he opted for the North East club.
“I came here because of the manager and the team and the way they play the game,” Chambers told The Sun.
“I felt this was the best place to come and develop myself as a player, to learn and to play games.
“The manager was a centre-half and I thought it would be good to learn from someone who had played in that position at the highest level.
“The training, the intensity and the detail the manager goes into, that has been the main thing for me.”
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will hope that Chambers can stay fit and play week-in, week-out for Middlesbrough this season before returning to North London in the summer.
The young defender has shown potential since moving to the Emirates Stadium but needs experience to live up to his billing and make an impact in the Gunners first-team fold.
