Arsenal and Tottenham signed Calum Chambers and Eric Dier in the same summer.
England’s Eric Dier in action with Slovakia’s Juraj Kucka
Back in 2014 Arsenal and Tottenham both invested in promising English defenders, with Calum Chambers and Eric Dier both signing with the North London side.
Two years on, and Dier is the one on track to fulfil his potential, while Chambers, four times more costly, is struggling.
Eric Dier’s success was rewarded today with a new contract, with Spurs renewing his deal until 2021, the club announced via their official website.
Part of his heroics are down to a position switch, excelling in central midfield, a position he has held down for Spurs over the past year despite intense competition for places.
England’s Eric Dier celebrates after scoring their first goal
A move into midfield has been mooted for Chambers also, with Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger experimenting with the youngster in this position in under-21 games.
The signing of Granit Xhaka in the summer underlined that this was not an idea he wanted to pursue, yet despite a paucity of options in central defence, Wenger decided it was best for Chambers to be sent out on loan, with the England under-21 regular moving to newly promoted Middlesbrough.
Both Dier and Chambers enjoyed strong starts at Tottenham and Arsenal, but at first it had seems as though the Gunners star was more likely to be the bigger success.
Chivas’ Carlos Villanueva in action with Arsenal’s Calum Chambers
He was more costly than Dier, at £16 million compared to £4 million, but the career paths of the duo so far suggest Tottenham have landed the better deal, irrespective of price.
Dier is a regular for England as well as Tottenham, and appears to have carved out his place in the Spurs side for years to come.
This week he will be playing Champions League football for Spurs, while Chambers will not get his opportunity to do so with Arsenal as he has previously, instead he will simply be watching on television.
Arsenal’s Calum Chambers scores their third goal
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
