Unai Emery says that Calum Chambers’ pre-season meant he deserved to start today’s Premier League opener, and the Arsenal boss was impressed with his performance and his partnership with Sokratis in the 1-0 win over the Magpies.
Clean sheets away from home have not been anywhere near frequent enough, but in our first game of the new season we have one under our belts, as well as the three very important points.
The boss was asked about Chambers and the defence following the game, and he was pleased with positive performances.
“Really, last year for Calum Chambers was a very good year because he played all the matches with Fulham,” said Emery.
“They played him as centre-back in a three, in a two and they played him as a midfielder. From pre-season, he deserved to play today in the first XI and he was very focused and with Sokratis was also very serious.
“I want to have very competitive players in each position. With David Luiz, with Holding when he is coming back to help us, with training regularly and playing with the under-23s because he will play again tomorrow.
“And with Hector Bellerin, one month more. Today we also had Sead out and the injury to Kieran Tierney.
“I think we can and will want to become stronger defensively, but above all being one offensive team.”
So Emery mentioned every single defender except Mustafi. Hopefully an offer of any type comes in.
Chambers did well today but will obviously be faced with sterner tests, Barnes & Woods next week will be a much tougher test.
I think Mustafi killed himself in Unais eyes in the barcelona game. The pure look of discust that Unai had when Barcelona scored their second really looked like he had had enough
Newcastle’s attack was virtually non existent, they’re in for a very long season. Interesting to hear Mourinho talking about Ceballos+ Pepe needing an adjustment period. They certainly wouldn’t be the first players to take a few months to adjust to the intensity of the league. I don’t mind Mkhitaryan, but for someone who’s had a full pre-season, he just didn’t look fit today, he was really slow across of the ground, I still think he’ll start next week though. I thought when Emery came in, that he would need 2 season to got us going, and also to reshape the… Read more »
Got to say, though I have gone on record many times saying he’s my least favourite Arsenal player ever, I do feel for him at the moment. Can’t be easy being in his position; whether you’re earning £100 a week or £100,000 he’s ultimately still a bloke trying to do a job- just so happens he’s not very good at it. Knowing there are millions of people so staunchly against you must be soul crushing. Good luck to him wherever he ends up.
Yeah. I’m not having a go at him. I feel bad for him that he is is being booed by his own fans in meaningless friendly’s.
Hopefully he can be moved on as it would be best for everyone including himself.
Fair comment
Actually, if you’re on 100,000 a week, aren’t enjoying your job because you suck at it and people hate you, you can just quit and try your hand at something you might be less abject at.
That’s the difference between being a multi-millionaire and not.
He actually played against Burnley for us already alongside Mavropanos in Arsene’s last ever home game & even though the spotlight was on our offensive play (we won 5:0), Chambers was quietly brilliant and didn’t allow anything.
For some reason, I feel like this guy has it way tougher than some to get a proper chance. For instance, last preseason, I felt like he performed the best out of all our CBs & was loaned out as a result. This transfer window it also seemed like he’s on his way out. Always liked him, calm, great passing range.
I think it was a mistake for Wenger to put him At right back. He had that one torrid time where he got burned every time he defended. Hurt his confidence and development. You can be an excellent cb and a shit outside back. We payed a fairly hefty sum for a 16 yo. I hope he can come good.
Totally agree. That game at Swansea where he got roasted at RB but Wenger did nothing to ensure he got assistance against a tricky winger summed up a season for me.
Chambers was picked ahead of Holding at England level and Blogs summed it up well by saying he knows his limitations. He’s just the sort of seemingly average English player that just gets on with his defensive job and makes it hard for opponents. More of a Bould and just what we needed.
Now I’m 1,025% convinced there are negotiations going on with Mustafi and he’s on his way out very soon.
1-0 to the Arsenal 1-0
Chambers did everything right and didn’t try anything above his pay grade… Kept it simple and that worked so well, I think he played out from the back well also..
Absolutely!
Goodbye Mustafi
this is the game unai realized he should have loaned mustafi to fulham instead.
This is an underrated comment, and an underrated quality inn a defender. Stay calm, goal side, don’t allow the call to bounce in the box, and if a pass squeezes through, just boot the damn thing into the stands!
You’re welcome for that expert analysis.
TL;DR excited for Chambers to finally get a fair chance to show his quality.
Quality Inn is usually pretty crap, not that underrated
Quality Inn is crap, but the Chambers there do a good job in a pinch.
Have to say I was very impressed with Callum today. Nice and today and did his job very well. Already seems an upgrade on Mustafi.
Also, that was a potential banana skin today. We were short a lot of our first team and the young lads look like they are going to provide genuine competition to the starting team.
We will have to wait and see, but I’m feeling a lot more optimistic that I expected to be, judging on the performances in April and May
Tidy*
A contender for MOTM. He deserves more credit as a player, never understood why he was being linked with moves away or people were saying he should be used as a makeweight for Zaha. I was even surprised he was allowed to go on loan last season considering our issues in his position. Here’s hoping he and our other defenders can kick on now, the clean sheet was a very good start.
I didn’t expect Emery to ghost Mustafi! Fingers crossed this means there has been an offer. Pleased to see Chambers performing well. Let’s hope he keeps it up.
I think that Suarez goal in pre season was the nail in the coffin for Mustafi. Emery had shown him extreme patience.
Let unai loan Mustafi fans stop mocking the defender now that we fit in defense.
the defense actually got better once Mustafi was removed.
Not just an effect of missing one player, but generally we seemed better positioned and ready to press and hound the ball in our own half.
At least that was pleasing. Else, it was bad offensive. So bad.
Celebrating the clean sheet away from home more than the win!!!!
Celebrating the clean sheet away from home more than the win itself!!!
Brother we are celebrating together good defensive from Calum chambers he should be well by now.
Chambers was seriously good today
First 5 mins when their pacey striker (Did Niles at one point) got on the sprint while Chambers was leaning his momentum the other way, Turned…kept up with him and used his strength to get the goal kick…very nice
Damn. Not even a mention of Mustafi.
Looks like savagery was another brilliant acquisition this summer.
Why would he mention Mustafi?
Looks like common sense also a casualty.
Interesting in seeing a Luiz and Chambers combo now.
Interested*
I wouldn’t switch it around too much.
I thought he did decent.
He had issues in pre-season with positioning against Dembele and against Barca/Suarez.
BUT its a learning curve for him again.
I think the key if possible is to keep as consistent a selection in the back 2 pairing as possible for Sokratis and him to develop some level of understanding.
In that, Holding is still some ways away and SideshowBob (I suppose I have to reluctantly get behind him) will be the reserve asset.
Still some dangerous moments at the back today. We were not entirely water tight by any means.
All these Mustafi obsessed people need to be watching the game properly.
Issues in defense not entirely worked out.
I feel midfield as well had issues not resolved, Cebellos the player to come in to assert more control is clearly not (as yet) Santi Carzola nor completely anywhere near in sync.
Still a lot of work to be done and against a better team, we would have been punished.
I agree Santi. I think AMN is poor defensively and midfield covering was still weak. We have the Burnley game (which I think Chambers will enjoy) to get improvements before those tricky couple of games that will really show our potential.