It was not all bad news for the Arsenal players on international duty last night, as our young defender Calum Chambers, who has gone to Middlesborough on loan, started and completed the match for Gareth Southgate’s England under 21s in which they hammered Norway by 6-1, three of them coming from Man United’s Marcus Rashford.
Chambers is a regular first choice in the centre of defence for Southgate and that, along with the more regular football he should get this season on Teeside will hopefully see him return to Arsenal a better player and one that will feature more for Arsene Wenger in the future.
It was a bad day at the office for the France national team, though, in their first competitive game since losing the Euro 2016 final to Portugal. Didier Deschamps side, which included the Arsenal duo Laurent Koscielny and Olivier Giroud from the start, failed to break down a resolute Belarus and had to settle for a point after a 0-0 draw.
Giroud did come closest for Les Bleus but saw his effort hit the woodwork and that was not what the big forward needed as he seeks to earn his first club start of the new season. Another concern for Arsenal was the red card shown to new Gunner Granit Xhaka.
He did help the Swiss to a surprise 2-0 win over the European champions Portugal but it was his fourth sending off in a year and he will have to be more disciplined in the fast and furious Premier League.
Bob.