Arsenal: Calum Chambers injury can sting in one particular area

Seeing Calum Chambers injured may have felt like nothing more than a bummer for Arsenal, but it’s going to start to hurt more soon.

Arsenal were finally able to welcome back Calum Chambers after his largely successful loan move at Middlesbrough in the 2016/17 season and, lo and behold, he was just as good as we could have expected. Perhaps even more so, as some people seemed to have forgotten he existed.

But he lasted just 45 minutes before suffering a set back of his hip injury against Doncaster. Yet, in those 45 minutes, we saw quality upon quality. He was a professional, mature and composed at the back. Someone that could be relied on.

As he was part of the rotational defense, it may not seem like that big of a deal and, for the most part, it isn’t. However, there is one major point of concern regarding this injury.

Arsenal left just about all of their regular first team starters at home as they embarked on their long journey to Belarus to face BATE Borisov, but one starter that was not only included in the trip, but started, was Shkodran Mustafi.

Mustafi is already under the microscope as supporters are griping that he needs to get his act together. While I’m not of the same mind, my worry with Mustafi is that this long distance travel will adversely effect him.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

The German will most likely be starting against against Brighton & Hove Albion tomorrow, meaning that he will have had very little rest, a ton of travel and a ton of game time these past seven days.

And, compiling on that, he may not be completely up to snuff against the Seagulls, which would add fuel to the errant argument that he has been below his standard of quality.

This is my concern. Mustafi should not have been starting against BATE Borisov, but there was no choice. That was Chambers spot and it had to be filled. Without Gabriel Paulista, who was sold over the summer, the Gunners had no one else to turn to.

There’s really no way around it. Unless Wenger decides to do something crazy and shake up his back line at a time where they have been remarkably consistent, landing three straight clean sheets.

They should be in line for another, and Mustafi is going to be a big part of making it happen. Hopefully this fear is all just hullabaloo and nothing to worry about.

Next: Arsenal's 30 Greatest Players Ever

Thankfully, this is the only match where this will be an issue, as Chambers will be back in action following international break.

Home/Arsenal News