Sky Sports pundit Alan Smith believes the future of Calum Chambers at Arsenal could all depend on how much game time he gets.
The 22-year-old was recently on a season-long loan at Middlesbrough, who were relegated to the Championship during the recently concluded campaign.
Centre-back Chambers was a regular member of that Boro side that finished second bottom and recorded only 28 points from their 38 matches.
Despite getting relegated, Boro’s defence was one of their strongest points, they conceded 53 goals, the least of those teams in the bottom half, but it was their lack of goals up front (27) that hurt them most.
Nonetheless, ahead of his return to the Emirates Stadium this summer, former Gunners striker Smith explained whether Chambers has a future at the club.
“It all depend on how much he is going to get used,” Smith told Sky Sports. “It all depends on how much he is going to get used.
“The year at Middlesbrough did him the world of good playing week in week out. He had a decent season next to Ben Gibson and they forged a good partnership. There was nothing wrong with Middlesbrough’s defensive record.
“It’s hard to go back to being a fringe player having played regularly, but my feeling is that would want to succeed at Arsenal.”
Chambers played 24 Premier League matches for Boro, including starting off the 2016/17 by lining up for Arsenal during their opening day defeat against Liverpool.
Arsene Wenger, who endured his own difficult campaign last term, signed the highly-rated defender from Southampton during the summer of 2014
Since his big-money move, he has gone on to play 59 matches for Arsenal and he currently is away on international duty with the England-21s.
Upon his return, he is set to join a team that finished outside of the top-four last term and will be playing Europa League football.