Arsenal Vs AC Milan: Calum Chambers, not Hector Bellerin, should start

Hector Bellerin, per Arsene Wenger, is available for selection for Arsenal’s second leg against AC Milan. But he shouldn’t play. Calum Chambers should. Here’s why.

Given their slumping position in the Premier League, the unsuccessful end of the Carabao Cup, and their early exit in the FA Cup thanks to a rather embarrassing trip to Nottingham Forest’s City Ground, every Europa League game that Arsenal now play will be the biggest game of their season up until that point. That is again the case this Thursday.

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AC Milan traverse across the Channel to face the Gunners needing to overhaul an unfortunate two-goal hole after a first leg in which they were carved open by a ruthlessly brilliant away European performance. Nevertheless, Gennaro Gattuso gave his team a 30% chance of qualification. Arsene Wenger must get his team selection and his tactics spot on.

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And he does have several decisions to weigh up beforehand. How should he balance the midfield with the potential for space on the counter attack? Should he risk the likes of Shkodran Mustafi who suffered a potential groin strain on Sunday? What happens with Nacho Monreal who returned to training but may be lacking match sharpness after a few weeks absent? These are all questions that need to be, and will be, in time, answered. However, the one that I am most concerned with is who Wenger chooses to play at right back.

Hector Bellerin, like Monreal, returned to full training this week. Wenger, in his pre-match press conference, stated that everyone other than Alexandre Lacazette is available for selection. Logically, then, it seems sensible to presume that Bellerin, if Wenger wishes, could start on Thursday. However, I believe that Calum Chambers, not Bellerin, should be the man starting.

Now, I am not saying that Chambers is a better player than Bellerin, although I do have significant concerns regarding the performance levels of the latter. Rather, for the pattern of the game that is likely to play out, the type of display that Arsenal need to put in, and the individual responsibilities of each player, I believe that Chambers is a better right back than Bellerin on this occasion.

Perhaps most importantly, Chambers, being a natural centre-half, is a better defender than Bellerin. He is more comfortable in one-on-one situations, even with a lesser turn of speed, his reading of the game is a little sharper, and he is more disciplined positionally.

But more than open-play defending, he is also bigger in stature. This may seem like a simple point to make, but his added size will make a difference. Milan made a point of targeting the Arsenal defence from wide areas, hauling an inordinate number of crosses into the box — they made 31 crosses from open play, with Suso on his own attempting more than the whole of the Arsenal team. Chambers greater aerial ability would be invaluable, from set pieces and in open play.

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It remains to be seen whether Wenger sees it the same way as I do, but, if it were me in charge, I would be selecting Chambers, not Bellerin. I guess only time will tell if that is right or not.