Arsenal: Jonny Evans has nothing on Calum Chambers

Arsenal are supposedly nibbling after Jonny Evans, but the West Brom defender has nothing on the young, indomitable Calum Chambers.

Arsenal’s defense has been shambolic at times this year. No one will deny that. But where you will find controversy is when trying to diagnose why they have been terrible. Formations and personnel have rotated like a damn carousel and injuries have plagued the cast and crew, which certainly all has something to do with it.

But in Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi, the Gunners have two incredibly capable centerbacks who are both reliable in every sense. They have had their struggles, most of which are baffling, but we know their qualities.

To chalk up the Gunner’s defensive woes as a matter of personnel seems irresponsible. You can’t solve every problem by signing someone new. And if you are going to sign someone new, that new person needs to be undeniably better than what you already have.

Check out the latest Pain in the Arsenal PodCast!

Jonny Evans is no undeniably better than Mustafi or Koscielny. He is a quality defender that would add a bit of depth, but he would not displace either of them. He’d be a third wheel. And he certainly isn’t the ball-playing centerback that would be required should a back three come back around to include Evans.

So he would be a utility centerback, to cover in case of injury. Nothing wrong with that. Except that their is. Because that is currently the role that Calum Chambers is holding down and – get ready for it – Evans has nothing on young Calum Chambers.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

As in, I would prefer to have Chambers as the next in line at centerback rather than Evans to fill in in a pinch. And it’s not just a matter of having a brighter future, although that is a big factor. Chambers has the world to prove and he knows it with each opportunity.

He was fantastic with Middlesbrough last year and he has improved by leaps and bounds with each appearance with Arsenal this year. Sure, he has had some rookie mistakes, but those came early on. Lately he has been completely no nonsense.

Chambers is now 23 years old and he is ready for more responsibility, which means he is going to be chomping at the bit with each traipse onto the pitch. I’d take that ferocity in his added motivation over Evans any day. I’m not bashing Evans, I’m just saying that in the motivation department, Chambers has him beat.

In the future department, which requires regular game time, Chambers has him beat.

The only category where Evans has the upper hand is in experience. That’s important, sure. But the problem with Arsenal’s defense isn’t a lack of experience. Hell, if anything, they are too old. Plus, if you don’t believe in this young defense, look at how they handled themselves in the 0-0 draw against Chelsea.

Next: Arsenal's Ideal XI With Henrikh Mkhitaryan

That’s what they are capable of. Don’t muddy up the system with a true panic buy that serves no purpose other than to fix a problem that isn’t fixable by throwing a new signing at it.