Arsenal got a lot of business done during the January transfer window. Of the six first-team players to depart either permanently or on loan, by all accounts, Calum Chambers' move to Aston Villa took many by surprise.
Four days before the transfer window closed, it was announced that after seven-and-a-half years, the versatile defender's time at the Emirates Stadium had come to an end with him joining Steven Gerrard's side for an undisclosed fee.
"Calum Chambers has joined Aston Villa in a permanent transfer for an undisclosed fee," a statement read on Arsenal 's official website. "Joining us from Southampton in July 2014 as a 19-year-old, Calum soon became a full England international, having previously starred for the Under-21s.
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"The defender made 122 appearances in all competitions during his time with us, winning both the FA Community Shield on his debut in August 2014 and the Emirates FA Cup in 2015. We wish Calum all the best for the next chapter in his career and thank him for his contribution to Arsenal over the past eight seasons."
Whilst Chambers barely featured for Arsenal during the first half of the season, he did provide cover at right-back as well as in central midfield which made the decision to let him leave all the more surprising as Mikel Arteta is now working with a smaller squad.
But, in truth, early signs are that the move was definitely the best decision for all parties. The 27-year-old has started five of Villa's last six games in his favoured central defensive role, helping to keep a clean sheet in two of them and whilst proving to be a threat at the other end.
After producing the 'pass of the season' as Villa thumped Southampton 4-0 at the beginning of the month, sweeping the ball out to Philippe Coutinho with the outside of his boot in the build-up to Douglas Luiz scoring, Chambers has already opened his account by grabbing a goal against Leeds United.
That's one pre-assist, a goal and two clean sheets in his last three appearances. A player in form and that might be bad news for the Gunners ahead of their trip to Villa Park - a ground where they have lost 1-0 on their last two visits.
Speaking ahead of the game, Arteta picked out Coutinho as a player his side must keep quiet if they're to get the required result that allows them to go into the March international break sitting fourth in the Premier League table.
"One of them," Arteta replied when asked if Coutinho is Villa's dangerman. "Obviously the team does a lot of things when he's on the ball and he's in dangerous areas and he has contributed to a lot in their attacking phase, so obviously it's something we have to bear in mind. His ability to create goals and to create chances, unlock spaces when they don't exist and that's the quality he had when he was at Liverpool."
Based on Chambers' recent form, the Spaniard may want to devise a special plan to keep his former player quiet and to avoid a familiar feeling where the likes of Robin van Persie, Emmanuel Adebayor and Alexis Sanchez came back to haunt the Gunners after joining a fellow Premier League side.
Should Chambers play a role in Villa inflicting a third straight home win over Arsenal then it could provide a new twist in the top-four race as the winners of Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham United on Sunday afternoon would be in line to leapfrog the Gunners in the table.
