Tony Cascarino has told talkSPORT that he only expects Calum Chambers to occupy a squad role under Steven Gerrard after completing a free transfer to Aston Villa from Arsenal.
The Villans signed Chambers from the Gunners on a three-and-a-half-year contract without a fee earlier this week. Mikel Arteta let the defender leave the Emirates Stadium as he had just five-months on his deal. He has also spent the season in the north London wilderness.
Chambers has only started two Premier League fixtures so far this term and last featured in August. Arteta awarded the 27-year-old his last top-flight appearance in place of Ben White in their 5-0 drubbing at Manchester City, as their £50m signing tested positive for Covid-19.
Manchester City ran rings around Chambers, as he seemed scared to challenge in the air. He also lost track of the ball to gift Ilkay Gundogan an unmarked back post header to break the deadlock. While also petrified to tackle Jack Grealish as he assisted Gabriel Jesus.
Arteta only felt fit for Chambers to play in their Carabao Cup fourth-round win over Leeds following the City defeat. He also featured in the first-leg of their semi-final with Liverpool after Cedric Soares sustained a first-half injury at Anfield.
Cascarino issues honest prediction for Chambers at Aston Villa
Cascarino doubts Chambers will get much more minutes at Aston Villa this season following his transfer from Arsenal. Instead, the former Villans forward anticipates Gerrard will keep the three-cap England defender to a similar reserve role to what he had at the Emirates.
“Deals, generally, take a long time. Very few, like Calum Chambers, happen [quickly],” he said. “Calum is a squad player for Villa. He’s not going to be a certain starter every week. That deal is something that just gets put together.”
Chambers will offer Aston Villa depth at centre and right-back following his transfer from Arsenal. Gerrard otherwise only has Ashley Young as a backup for reported Atletico Madrid target Matty Cash. He will also join Kortney Hause behind Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa.
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