Per Mertesacker: 'Calum Chambers can handle England call-up'

By Simon Sinclair, Reporter | 31 August 2014

Arsenal centre-back Per Mertesacker feels that young defensive partner Calum Chambers can handle the pressure of being called in the England squad.

Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker believes that Calum Chambers has the right "character" to cope with his call-up to the England squad.

The 19-year-old was named in Roy Hodgson's squad for the matches against Norway and Switzerland next month after an impressive start to life at the Gunners.

Mertesacker is adamant that Chambers can handle the pressure that comes with being an international player despite not having yet played for the England Under-21 side.

He told reporters: "Nowadays at international level, good players come in and will get a call-up very early and it is down to the England boss and Arsene Wenger to deal with that right.

"But Calum as a person, his character, he is up for it and I don't think it will go wrong for him. He is absolutely that character who can keep his feet on the ground and can cope with those situations when he is under pressure.

"The focus is more on him now, but he is very ambitious and a very important character for England. I started early as an international as well and it is tough but, as a centre-half, you don't draw too much attention."

Arsenal face Leicester City at the King Power Stadium in the Premier League later today.