Much has been made of Arsenal’s glaring defensive shortcomings this season, but despite the continuing errors this season, Wenger has mostly persevered with the ageing Laurent Koscielny and Nacho Monreal while only using Rob Holding and Calum Chambers when forced to by injuries to his first-choice defenders.
But in the Europa League and League Cup, the two younger members have been starting together and I think Wenger is hoping they can build up a partnership for the future, but who would you say should be the first of those to go to if we have an injury to our senior trio? In the Premier league Wenger has started Holding 6 times to Chambers 5, although Calum has also been played as a right back at times, so Wenger doesn’t seem to have a preference on paper and seems to treat them equally.
Holding has stated that he thinks he is improving under Jens Lehmann and is ready to step up when needed. He said: “I’d say the first half of the season was a bit in and out, with the cup competitions, and then since late January it’s been a real knuckle down, cracking on with it and doing what I need to do,”
“The manager’s noticing it and against Watford I felt like I had a really good, solid game. He knows that I’m there, pushing, and any little mistakes from Koscielny and Mustafi or slight injuries, I want to be the first one that he’s looking to.”
I must say I do agree that Holding has looked stronger lately, but I also have to say that Chambers has also been impressive in his last few games, so who should be first-choice out of those two. Or should Wenger always play them together to build up their relationship for the future?
Sam P