Gary Neville claims that Arsenal defender Calum Chambers isn’t good enough physically to play as a right-back after defeat to Brentford in the Premier League curtain-raiser.
The Gunners kickstarted their league campaign on Friday night with a crushing 2-0 loss away to newly-promoted opposition.
However, it was a dream beginning for Brentford in front of a superb home crowd. Sergi Canos and Christian Norgaard were on the scoresheet to secure the Bees a deserved three points.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are without European football this season, so there is even more pressure on them to finally compete again domestically around the top-four positions. Unfortunately, a defeat to Brentford is the worst possible start.
Pundit Neville did give a criticism to Chambers for his performance in his post-match analysis.
The 26-year-old defender, who can play centre-back or full-back, had a challenging evening against Brentford in his role at right-back.
There are times at the Emirates Stadium where the Englishman has shown his potential, but he looked well off it last night alongside some of several teammates.
“I think Calum Chambers needs to play in a back-three. He’s not a right-back in a back-four, he’s not a centre-back in a back-two,” Neville said on Sky Sports’ Main Event channel (10:27pm, 13 August).
“It was an honest performance, but he falls short of the physical expectations needed [at right-back].”
Chambers display a reminder Arsenal need to sign a right-back
There are several positions Arsenal still need to strengthen while the window is open, including the key area at right-back.
Versatile defender Chambers can’t be the long-term solution at the Emirates Stadium in that role and Hector Bellerin was left on the bench. In addition, Bellerin reportedly said earlier in the window he wants to leave north London this summer.
Chambers isn’t the individual that should be receiving more slack over others after yesterday. It’s a fair point though that perhaps Arteta should stick to using him as a centre-half over a full-back. His game is a million miles away to what Kieran Tierney tries to offer from left-back and his physical build suits a centre-back much more. A modern full-back needs serious pace and power.
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