Calum Chambers has admitted that he first started thinking about a loan move last season.

The 21-year-old has signed for Middlesbrough for the season and Aitor Karanka has already been speaking about how Arsenal should expect a better player back at the end of the deal.

“There’s a buzz around the place and it’s exciting to be here,” said Chambers in his first interview since signing for Boro.

“Middlesbrough is a great club, with great history. 

“I’m a passionate player, enthusiastic, and positive on the pitch – I want to come here, play as many games as possible, and do as well as I can for myself and the club.

 “It [the move] was something that I had thought about towards the end of last season.

“We gave it a lot of thought, but when Middlesbrough came up it was all quite quick.

“I’m excited to show everyone at Boro what I can do.

“He [Karanka] told me I would enjoy the training, the style of play, and that it’s a great bunch of lads.

“I already know Gaston [Ramirez] from Southampton and [Ben] Gibson from England. 

“He’s a great manager and I’m looking forward to working under him.”

Chambers arrived at the club two seasons ago, costing Arsenal £16m because of the English premium.

While doubts hang over his Arsenal future in the minds of some, the more I think about him and the price Arsene Wenger was willing to pay leads me to believe that he won’t be giving up on him any time soon.

Now it’s up to Calum to show the form that prompted Wenger to pay that sort of money for him in the first place.