Arsenal vs Watford: Calum Chambers deserves his encore

Arsenal will not have Hector Bellerin against Watford, but that’s okay, because Calum Chambers deserves his encore. Get ready to be convinced.

Arsenal’s win over AC Milan produced a ton of talking points, despite being just one match. It showcased all the strengths we thought we had and some we didn’t – like Calum Chambers‘ ability to play as a competent and, dare I say influential fullback.

Chambers was filling in for an injured Hector Bellerin, who has been rather poor this year, despite having played every single minute up until recently. It was long believed that Bellerin had no true challengers in the club, but Chambers may have changed that.

We all agree that Chambers is not a fullback. That’s obvious. His skills as a ball-playing centerback combined with his supremacy in the air and his astuteness despite his young age makes for someone who is ready for the Premier League right now, he just doesn’t have the opening to make that step yet.

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Which is why I’m excited to see the Chambers encore against Watford. It’s shaping up like he will get the start and he damn well better, if at all possible. For starters, Chambers needs that chance to assert himself. Again, we all know this isn’t his primary position, but at his age, playing time is playing time and it’s allowing him to prove just how ready he is.

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Watford will more than likely have the sneaky Richarlison lined up opposite Chambers, which will prove his toughest test since (whispers) Jefferson Montero.

It won’t be an easy test, but it will allow Chambers to yet again showcase just how talented he is when it comes to shutting down players who are otherwise incredibly capable. I have seen Chambers shut down Mahrez, Vardy, Sane and Aguero, and people want to try to say that he isn’t Premier League quality?

Madness.

Watford is it. Bellerin will be due back soon after and, if Chambers can show yet again that he is more than capable of the job, then he should absolutely maintain the right back position until Bellerin earns it back from him.

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I don’t know about you, but I’m excited about it, mostly because I have so much faith in him to prove me right. When he pockets Richarlison, I hope we can all agree that Bellerin is old news.