Another Solution for Arsenal’s Defensive Problems by AT
As we all may have realised by now, the unfortunate injury to Laurent Koscielny has had a very significant impact on Arsenal’s season, not only because of the sheer quality of the French international defender but more so because of Arsenal’s lack of cover in that position. It is an issue so significant that the Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has to play Nacho Monreal, who isn’t quite up to the mark in his more natural left-back position, as a centre-back in the heart of the Arsenal defence.
While I understand that the reason behind that is because our third-choice centre-back Calum Chambers has to cover for the injured Mathieu Debuchy at right-back, there is also another solution that Wenger can consider. Let’s face it, Chambers is a much better central defender than a full-back, a fact that was so evident when the English international was shredded by Jefferson Monteiro during the Gunners’ Premier League clash against Swansea City. But although he isn’t the best full-back around, he certainly is a very sound centre-back, as we saw in the early stages of the competition.
What I’m trying to suggest here is that Chambers can be moved to the centre to partner Mertesacker, making space for Hector Bellerin on the right side of defence. Contrary to popular opinion, I really do not think that in doing so, Arsene Wenger is rushing the former La Masia youngster into the first-team, anyone who may have seen him play so far this campaign will know that Bellerin is well and truly ready for the big-time and is desperate to make the break into the Gunners’ first-team picture.
Speaking in regards to what the Spanish starlet can bring to the pitch for Arsenal, he has electrifying pace, great dribbling ability, an eye for a killer pass and he is also very defensively sound, all he needs is a little experience under his belt. So now with Koscielny and Debuchy both struggling with injuries and with Chambers not really up to the mark in the right-back position, why doesn’t Arsene Wenger just give young Hector Bellerin a chance to shine for Arsenal?