Arsenal: Calum Chambers was just coming good

It is official: Calum Chambers has torn his ACL and will miss six to nine months. It is a crying shame. The Arsenal defender was just coming good.

Injuries really are a horrible beast. They are never nice to see, never nice to suffer, and seemingly almost always come at precisely the wrong time. This week, the for second season in succession, a burgeoning young Arsenal defender tore his ACL, underwent surgery, and will now face a long and painful rehabilitation process to be ready for the new year.

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Last year, it was Rob Holding. Holding was beginning to flourish under Unai Emery before slipping on some astroturf at Old Trafford. He missed the remainder of the season, much to the chagrin of Emery, and over a year later, he is still not fully fit.

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This time it is Calum Chambers’ unfortunate turn. After crumbling on top of his left leg in the weekend’s defeat to Chelsea midway through the first half, Chambers eventually hobbled off. Sadly, it was clear from the moment he fell that a major injury had occurred.

On Thursday, Arsenal released official club statement that confirmed the worst:

"“Further to the injury sustained during the match against Chelsea on Sunday, we can confirm that Calum ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament of his left knee. Calum has had successful surgery in London on Thursday morning. The rehabilitation process is expected to take between six to nine months. Everyone at the club will be supporting Calum to ensure he is back on the pitch as soon as possible.”"

It is terrible news, both for Chambers and for the club as a whole. Not only will Chambers be frustrated at losing half a season, but Arsenal need him. He has been their best defender so far this campaign and had a chance to form a strong partnership alongside David Luiz at the heart of the defence, both excelling in the distribution that Mikel Arteta demands of his central defenders.

What is most upsetting is that Chambers was just beginning to come good. After arriving from Southampton as a 19-year-old in 2014, Chambers has never quite been able to deliver on his potential. He has struggled to forge a starting role in the team, has often found himself shunted out at right-back, and has only flourished when sent out on loan, most recently when he won the Player of the Season for Fulham last year.

But for the first time since his move to north London, he was arguably the best centre-back in the squad and was set to be handed the keys to the car. And now they have been snatched from his hand just as he was turning the engine on.

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Chambers was just starting to come good. And now it has been ripped away from him. Injuries really are the worst.

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