Arsenal: Calum Chambers can end Mohamed Elneny silliness

Arsenal’s biggest questions going into their home match against Red Star Belgrade come from the defense. But Calum Chambers can end the Elneny silliness.

Arsenal are moving into the second half of the Europa League group stage matches and they are perfect thus far. There have been hiccups and question marks along the way, but points are what we play for and points have been obtained to the maximum.

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While it hasn’t really bit Arsenal in the bum yet, there are defensive questions. Mainly because the mesh of players they are putting on that back line is anything but reliable.

What we saw last time, and what we have been seeing and should expect to see, are Reiss Nelson and Ainsley Maitland-Niles, neither of whom is known for their defensive ability. On the back line, there is Mathieu Debuchy, Mohamed Elneny and Rob Holding.

None of this inspires confidence. Debuchy is a solid defender, albeit a bit rusty. Holding has talent but has showcased down falls. And Elneny? Don’t even get me started on Elneny.

I wonder if the Europa League has what it takes to pierce even that defense, and I say that hesitantly, but that defense can certainly be pierced as we get farther into the two English cups, and I do find that troubling.

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Debuchy can shake off the rust and Holding can settle in. Ideally, Per Mertesacker would find his way back into the rotational squad too. But that’s all long term, and I have a major qualm with the exclusion inherent in that scheme – Calum Chambers.

Chambers can be a Premier League-calibre defender, he just has to work his way back into some regular game time, and that’s what these secondary competitions can provide. Plus, Chambers can end the Elneny silliness instantaneously. As in today.

He was back in training and if he is 100% he has to be out there, no questions asked. Let him prove that he should be our No. 1 rotational squad defender and set that trajectory upwards, where it should be trending.

Elneny is not a defender, and the sooner we can get that into our heads, mainly Wenger’s head, the better. Unfortunately for Wenger, the only way to do that is to give him an obviously better option.

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Calum Chambers is the only one that can end the silliness before it bites us in the arse like it looks like it one day will.