Arsenal: 2 central midfield solutions during AFCON

2. Calum Chambers

It’s one of these funny anecdotes that crops up almost every time Calum Chambers’ name is mentioned, yet has never been seen on a football pitch for Arsenal.

‘Chambers can play in central midfield he spent an entire season for Fulham in the role and won their Player of the Season’

Did he? Is it a myth?

He most certainly did and it’s something supporters have yet to see play out in the northern reaches of the capital. That doesn’t mean we haven’t been dished up inklings of it, however, as for spells last season Chambers was instructed to tuck inside and provide that extra man in midfield.

The best example was the storming 4-0 win away at Slavia Prague, where Arsenal would adopt a back three in possession with Granit Xhaka at left centre-back and Partey’s midfield partner, Dani Ceballos, virtually playing as a left wing-back.

This system meant Chambers would tuck in with the play down the left side and form a duo with Partey, a role he’s no stranger to playing from his time at Craven Cottage. Given he lacks a great deal of pace but is still faster than Elneny, for example, this option is one to explore and may even be used in pre-season depending on what can be achieved in the transfer market before Arsenal play Hibernian on July 13th.

In both cases, White or Chambers playing midfield is not a first, second or third option. A specialised operator who knows how to play that role is one of many essential pieces of business that needs doing this summer. Yet having the reserve options, and not bad ones either, could help soften the blow of AFCON when it comes around.