Calum Chambers says that being left out of Southampton's squad during the 2012/13 season gave him the spur he needed to reach the top.
The teenager had featured regularly in pre-season that year but was restricted to one appearance during the campaign, as a late substitute in a League Cup win at Stevenage.
Chambers did become a first-team regular the following season after pushing himself "to his limit".
"That season for me was tough. I had to go for it and give 100 per cent just to get there again during the next season"
"A few years ago at Southampton, I went away with the first team on the pre-season tour and I thought I did well there," he told Arsenal Player. "I played a few games, came back and played a few more.
"Then it got to the season and I was left out. It was devastating for me because you get so close to being a part of it and then you get put back down to the under-21s.
"That season for me was tough. I had to go for it and give 100 per cent just to get there again during the next season.
"I worked hard during the season. I got involved in one cup game and then the next season I got my chance in pre-season again.
"I made sure I did everything right, played as hard as I could to make sure that couldn't happen to me again."
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