Karanka the influence for Chambers’ Boro switch

It’s a move which has allowed him to stay in the Premier League, but Middlesbrough’s on-loan defender Calum Chambers feels it’s the experience of Aitor Karanka which drew his attention to the Riverside.

The Arsenal man made the switch to the North East at the end of August for the duration of the season, making his debut in Boro’s defeat to the Gunners’ rivals Tottenham Hotspur last Saturday.

That was despite Chambers already featuring for Arsenal in the season-opening defeat to Liverpool, and he is now looking to use his time away from the Emirates to tap into the knowledge of Karanka, himself a defender during his playing days, notably with Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao.

(Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

“I came here because of the manager and the team and the way they play the game,” said Chambers.

“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.

“The tactical detail we go into on the opposition we have that weekend is amazing. It is very useful.”