Arsene Wenger has come under attack in recent weeks over his Arsenal tactics. In fact, the Frenchman has been getting blasted for years on this website and one of the things that crops up as much or more than any other is his use of substitutes, or his lack thereof.
The Prof very rarely makes an early change or a significant tactical one, leading to calls that he has no plan B or simply that he is stubborn and refuses to change a plan he thinks is right, despite evidence to the contrary. And during the away game with Swansea City at the weekend, it seemed clear to everyone watching that Calum Chambers was having a torrid time at right back against the Swansea winger Jefferson Montero.
Some of the TV pundits suggested that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain should have been detailed to protect the 19-year old, but that would have curbed his attacking play which was very good and actually led to our opening goal. Maybe after that he should have sat back for a while.
But for me there was another glaring option and one I think should have been taken from the start, Hector Bellerin. The Spaniard may be inexperienced but he has great pace and it was Montero’s pace that was destroying Chambers. And with Nacho Monreal struggling in the centre against the power of Bony and then Gomis, where their second goal came from, surely Chambers would have been a better bet.
So with one sub, Wenger could have solved the right back and central defence problems. And you never know, Arsenal may have held on to a lead for a change. Did Wenger miss a trick or do you think Bellerin may have fared even worse than Chambers?