The ex-Arsenal star has opened up on the kind of attitudes and belief instilled into players while with the Gunners after Arteta’s side missed out on top four on the final day
Video Unavailable
Arteta ‘in pain’ after Arsenal miss out on Champions League
Former Arsenal defender Calum Chambers has complimented his old side and how the winning mentality that is valued at the Gunners has put him in good stead at Aston Villa.
The ex-Gunner made the switch to the Midlands during the January transfer window in a deal that few saw coming. Both Arsenal and Villa did well to keep the move under wraps, with the England international joining Steven Gerrard’s side for a small fee of £2million.
There has been no ill-feeling between Chambers and Arsenal since the exit, with the 27-year-old talking highly of the values and beliefs instilled in players while they are in North London. “I’ve sort of had it drilled into me that every game is a must-win game, so you can’t get complacent,” Chambers explained.
“If you draw or lose a game, you’re always disappointed and that’s just now become part of me.” Chambers went on to explain how that mindset first introduced to him at Arsenal is benefiting him at Villa Park.
“I think just having that sort of culture and that winning mentality all the time is only going to benefit the squad and that’s something we look to bring – to have that drive, every day wanting to improve yourself. There’s a great bunch of lads here anyway who do that every day, but it’s just getting as many players like that as you can.”
While it may be complimentary, Chambers suggestion that Arsenal have a ‘win-at-all’ cost mindset has been slightly undermined by the fact that manager Mikel Arteta suggested that missing out on Champions League football is acceptable for a club of the Gunners’ stature.
(
Image:
Getty Images)
HAVE YOUR SAY! Have Arsenal exceeded, met or fallen short of expectations of them this season? Comment below
Speaking to the BBC before the final day of the season that saw Arsenal miss out on the coveted fourth spot, Arteta said: “In a week’s time, when we are all on our holiday’s and we look back at what we have done and I think everyone will agree we did more than what was expected for sure.”
Pressed for comment as to whether the heartache of failing in their pursuit of Champions League qualification will help this young Arsenal side in the long run, Arteta added: “What they have done in the last 10 seasons nobody has done it. A club, a team with that age bracket of the starting eleven we have put on that pitch – it hasn’t been done in this league.”
The Gunners enjoyed a five-point lead over rivals Tottenham Hotspur with three games to go, but two defeats in that time – one of them coming against Antonio Conte’s side, ended their hopes of returning to the elite of European football.
Instead, Arteta’s troops will make a return to the Europa League where they will have to contend with the dreaded Thursday-Sunday fixture schedule for much of the campaign – where the kind of mentality Chambers eluded to has to rear its head once again.
Read More
Read More
