Arsenal: 5 key players to take three points in home opener vs Burnley

3. Calum Chambers

I used to get so excited to talk about Calum Chambers from the perspective of what he could potentially do. It was fun to talk about the ability that I believed he could exhibit on the pitch, but talking in hypotheticals gets old.

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Now that he has his chance in the starting XI, and now that he completely rocked it out against Newcastle, showing the confidence, composure and maturity that we desperately need in that defense, I don’t have to talk about hypotheticals anymore. I can talk about the here and now, and why he is key to the defense’s success.

Which he is. He has proven to be a solid ball handler, even in the wake of the David Luiz arrival, and while Sokratis is always reliable in his own way, the prospect of being able to count on a 24-year old who has fought for his spot is so much more attractive.

For that reason, I see Chambers as the key defender going forward, as he has all the pieces in place to make this defense a formidable force by season’s end. All he needs now is game time and he’s hopefully going to get it.

Plus, with Rob Holding due back soon, Chambers is going to be doubly determined to cement his place, so watch for another defensive beauty at home against Burnley.

No. 2 is next.