This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
When it comes to Calum Chambers, the footballing cynics may regard him as somewhat of an unlucky charm. The defender spent a season at Middlesbrough and saw them get relegated. He then had a year-long spell at Fulham last year, and also watched them go down. And after the start Arsenal have had, it appeared the gods above had transpired to make it a third time unlucky.
But quite simply, the England international has been one of the Gunners’ most impressive performers this season. And perhaps even more crucially, one of their more consistent and reliable players too. The likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Granit Xhaka have stolen the limelight for contrasting reasons with either their goals or altercation with fans, but it has been Chambers who has been the steadying presence in what truthfully has been a painful first-half to the campaign.
He has played at both right-back and centre-back this season, whilst he also featured for a short time at left-back against Nottingham Forest – a performance that saw him lay off a brilliant assist for Reiss Nelson and Unai Emery to jokingly claim after the match that he “didn’t listen” to him about staying back. Chambers has quietly gone about his work, offering defensive resilience and playing without any complaints about his constant changing of positions.
Against West Ham on Monday night, interim head coach Freddie Ljungberg reverted him back to the centre of defence, and as per Sofascore, his 7.5 match rating was only bettered by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on either side. He won eight duels, made three interceptions, and completed two tackles, whilst he also had the most amount of touches too with 115.
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His 6.85 average rating this season as per Whoscored puts him in an impressive seventh place, despite often being tasked with different jobs based on the team’s needs. He has become Arsenal’s ‘Mr Reliable’, a dependable figure who the north London side know they can turn at times of crisis like they have done this season. He may not be the most glamorous or high-profile name in the squad, but Chambers is quickly becoming one of the absolute must-haves in the team. A man whose qualities Arsene Wenger described as “immense”, is finally showing what he is capable of.
Meanwhile, Arsenal have been urged to cash in on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang before it’s too late, by this pundit.
