Arsenal: Why Unai Emery was right to drop Calum Chambers

Despite playing very well against Newcastle United, Arsenal head coach Unai Emery dropped Calum Chambers this weekend. Here is why he was right to do so.

After Laurent Koscielny threw a tantrum, Rob Holding and Dinos Mavropanos entered the season injured, and Arsenal were unable to bring another centre-half in until deadline day, just three days before their first game of the season, Unai Emery had no choice but to start Calum Chambers alongside Sokratis.

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Much to the surprise of most, however, Chambers, in his first start for the club in over a year after a season-long loan at Fulham, played extremely tidily at the heart of the defence. In fact, such was the solidity of his display, many were calling for him to start a week later against Burnley, despite the looming shadow of new signing David Luiz.

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Emery, though, had different ideas. Luiz was ushered straight into the team for the 2-1 victory over Burnley, Chambers dropping to the bench in the process. It seemed like a harsh decision. In part, it was a harsh decision and Chambers can feel a little aggrieved that he did not get a longer run in the team. But given the landscape of the early-season fixtures, this was a necessary ruthless streak shown by Emery.

While it is subject to change once Holding returns and the normal patterns of the season begin, it is expected that Luiz and Sokratis will be Arsenal’s starting pair at the centre-back position. They are the most experienced of all the options, Sokratis was the best central defender at the club last season other than the now-departed Koscielny, and Luiz was not exactly signed to sit on the bench, even if he did cost only £8 million.

With the Gunners now set to face two of their most difficult matches of the season, a trip to Anfield on Saturday night preceding the first North London Derby of the year at the Emirates, it is important that Emery readies his team accordingly. And chief among this is ensuring that his starting players are comfortable alongside one another. Nowhere is this more important than at centre-half.

The 90 minutes that Luiz and Sokratis enjoyed alongside one another is essential in their preparations to face two of the best three teams in the division. Throwing them together cold against Liverpool’s front three would be like asking a sprinter to run 100 metres without having stretched at all. They are going to pull a hamstring.

Emery, then, used this match against Burnley as preparation for the coming contests against Liverpool and Spurs — this is also why he handed Nicolas Pepe 45 minutes and not just 20 like a usual substitute may be given. Chambers was not dropped because he played poorly; Luiz started because he is scheduled to start for the remainder of the season, and Emery wants to provide the Brazilian as much opportunity to acclimatise as possible.

Was Chambers unlucky to be dropped after a solid performance against Newcastle? Yes, he was. But was Emery right to do so nonetheless? Indeed, that is also true.