Pain in the Arsenal
Fansided

Arsenal: 5 disappointments of the season so far

By Ross Kennerley

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta gestures from the side-lines during the English League Cup third round football match between Arsenal and AFC Wimbledon at the Emirates Stadium in London on September 22, 2021. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta gestures from the side-lines during the English League Cup third round football match between Arsenal and AFC Wimbledon at the Emirates Stadium in London on September 22, 2021. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Arsenal, Calum Chambers
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – AUGUST 28: Calum Chambers of Arsenal cuts a dejected figure following the Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal at Etihad Stadium on August 28, 2021 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /

4. Holding, Mari & Particularly Calum Chambers Looking so Average

With Ben White having only just joined, Takehiro Tomiyasu yet to join and Gabriel out injured, opportunities presented themselves for this particular backup trio.

Pablo Mari being so poor was a gigantic surprise, purely down to how dreadful he had been during pre-season giving everyone a head start. Nonetheless, this was a central defender that fans were lauding last season and encouraging to start ahead of Gabriel when his form was patchy. He was never an excellent centre-back, but he’d done well.

Good luck finding anyone who wants to watch him in an Arsenal shirt again.

Rob Holding, in his defence, no pun intended, has played twice this year in the Premier League against the champions of England and the champions of Europe. That is not easy. There must also be a mental aspect to it having had his place in the team confirmed as second fiddle the minute £50m was parted with. Never more than good, he is the least disappointing of all due to everyone already knowing everything about him.

The same can’t be said about Calum Chambers. It was reported that his awful form to start the season forced Arsenal into pushing to sign Tomiyasu, someone they might have left off signing for a little while longer due to the significance of the outlay already in the summer. Chambers made the decision very easy.

Another player who was never more than serviceable, his form at the end of last term was a legions away from the outings he put in to start the season. In the five matches since the Man City debacle he’s been on the bench twice (Norwich and AFC Wimbledon) and been left out of the matchday squads entirely in three others.

Is anyone especially bothered? Not really. Tomi is doing a fine job. However, it would be preferable having an ‘in-form’ Chambers as backup right-back than Cedric.

Continued…

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