Arsenal: A case for Calum Chambers

Arsenal have great competition at the centre-back position this season. One of those individuals, Calum Chambers, should be forgotten about.

For the first time in years, Arsenal have reasonable competition across the back four. As a result, I think it will take some time for Unai Emery to settle on his preferred back four.

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The full-backs are quite clear, once everyone is fit, but the centre-backs have four potentially starting options: David Luiz, Sokratis, Rob Holding, and, somewhat surprisingly, Calum Chambers. And the Gunners should not rule the latter option out.

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A lot of fans have always seemed open to the idea of selling Chambers. However, he has never been a bad defender. He has made mistakes, of course, and suffered from a lack of confidence, but that can be put down to a simple lack of maturity that all players suffer with at a young age.

Chambers has now been at the club five years. He is still only 24, one year older than Holding, and has certainly improved over the last 18 months, as evidenced by the loan at Fulham in which he was named their Player of the Season.

Last week against Newcastle United, Chambers settled in well alongside Sokratis and looked solid. It is hard to judge completely after one game, especially when the attack wasn’t all that inspiring, but there were positive signs. He looked composed on the ball, secure in his defending, and confident in his decision-making. I certainly don’t think he should be guaranteed a first-team spot, not yet anyway, but if these signs continue, it should not be ruled out.

He is a good defender, although perhaps not good enough for a team who is looking to challenge at the top of the league, but he has time to learn from experienced teammates like Luis and Sokratis and there is nothing wrong with being a solid, if not spectacular, defender.

Working under Unai Emery last season certainly improved the fortunes of Holding, for instance, until his injury, with many fans now calling for him to be a regular starter in the team. There is no reason to believe this won’t be the case with Chambers this time around.

Luiz came into the starting XI in place of Chambers in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Burnley, which was perhaps a harsh decision from Emery — this might be with the upcoming matches against Liverpool and Spurs in mind, wanting the centre-back duo of Sokratis and Luiz to play for 90 minutes alongside one another before being tested by two of the best teams in the league.

But as the season progresses, Chambers should not be ignored. With having the luxury of competition at the back, Arsenal shouldn’t rule Calum out just yet.