i said in the other thread that chambo isn't going to break out this season. touch is inconsistent, and his intelligence/awareness is avg as well. i was too optimistic about him during preseason. i'm also more sure than i've ever been that he's not a CM.

imo, our entire "english core" is overrated: wilshere, gibbs, chambo. throw chesney in there as well.

Kami I think you're mainly just underestimating how long it takes young players to find and develop the consistency they need. Chamberlain hadn't started a game in months before yesterday and Wilshere's not played nearly enough football since his breakout season. We've got to be patient with them both and ensure the squad's not reliant on either contributing more than they're ready to.

Every team in the league would sign them both tomorrow if they were on the market.

Overrated or not, I don't think they're being fairly treated to other players.

Hyped up to the extreme and when they can't live up to that immediately, they're automatically not good enough.

The same is happening to Chambers at the moment. Should he have some injury problems and struggle for a while, he'll be branded overrated in no time.

Yeah you're right Est.

The alternative is to spend hundreds of millions of pounds, which is what City and Chelsea have done and the reason why they have proven quality in every position.

Kel Varnsen wrote:

Can we afford to have 3-4 players in the first team who still need time develop the consistency they need? City and Chelsea have proven quality in almost every position.

You cut your cloth to suit your measure Kel, I've maintained that he could have spent a lot more than he did over the years but even I accept than we can't just go out and buy all the best players and even if we could its not always the best thing.
A manager has to decide upon a system and style of play and then assemble players that will best suit it, they don't have to be the best players but the best fit, a team is greater than sum of all its parts remember.
Wenger is not doing that, and his system and style of play is shit anyway.

he has a pretty chaotic style does chambo, sometimes it's spectacular, sometimes he looks like a mess. if he can find that middle ground he'll be excellent for us. and please god don't play him as a cm. i can't believe the idea was even coutenanced at any point. he doesn't have the awareness or the passing accuracy to play there.

Chamberlain is a world class youngster, no two ways about it in my opinion.

You just need to look at comparable clubs around Europe. All of them would take both him and Wilshere tomorrow if they were on offer.

I think Chamberlain's done enough to start. He came on at Palace and although what he tried didn't come off, we became more direct and a bigger threat with him in possession. He came on at Besiktas and again it was that same directness that lead to him hitting the post. I also thought he was decent on the weekend. In a team that passes aimlessly round the box, it's refreshing to have someone who's actually gonna take responsibility and have a shot.

He should come on as a sub right now IMO. Impact player until he develops a bit more consistency. Play Alexis-Özil-Wilshere behind Giroud and have him come on for JW at 60'.

that sounds reasonable. we desperately need walcott back at his best, though. wilshere and chambo aren't good enough right now to be starting for arsenal.

Captain wrote:

Chamberlain is a world class youngster, no two ways about it in my opinion.

Exactly. No worries or doubts about him for me

I'd have him starting over Wilshere at the moment.

No doubt. I would continue with Ox on the wings actually.

Gunner89 wrote:

I'd have him starting over Wilshere at the moment.

Yep me too.

Nn'yuh huh.

Chambo is a better player