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Arsenal have sent defender Calum Chambers on loan to Middlesbrough for the season, hoping his development will benefit from regular playing time with the Premier League newcomers. Chambers, 21, has seen his career stall at Arsenal with the former Southampton player's first-team chances further reduced by the addition of Rob Holding and Shkodran Mustafi this summer. "Calum heads to Middlesbrough for the opportunity to gain further first-team experience in the Premier League," Arsenal said in a statement on their website on Tuesday. The versatile Chambers can play at right-back, centre-back or as a holding midfielder, but Wenger has earmarked him as a central defender and is hoping Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka will give him an extended run in that position. After a promising first campaign with the Gunners in 2014-15, Chambers struggled to make the first-team squad last season except as injury cover. He entered this season hoping to seize the chance offered by injuries to Per Mertesacker and Gabriel Paulista and started Arsenal's opening game against Liverpool alongside Holding. However, he has yet to feature again after that 4-3 loss, with Wenger opting to retain Holding instead in the next two games. Middlesbrough have started the season well with one win and two draws, conceding just two goals in three games. The club have already strengthened their defence by signing Antonio Barragan from Valencia this summer, and also have Ben Gibson and Daniel Ayala as options at the back. Arsenal have also sent Joel Campbell on loan to Sporting Lisbon, while the club are ready to let Jack Wilshere go out for the season as well if a deal can be done before the end of Wednesday's deadline day.
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