£16m Arsenal player could get 1st start since August tomorrow – our view

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There’s a number of positive things which came out of Arsenal’s draw at Liverpool last week.

Firstly, we saw a phenomenal sense of unity within an Arsenal team that drew 0-0 at Anfield despite having 10 men for 65 minutes.

But also, we saw just how good of a footballer Calum Chambers could still prove himself to be for the Gunners.

The former Southampton defender came on in the first half to replace Cedric Soares and honestly, he was as good as anybody on the pitch at Anfield.

Chambers has been anonymous this season and hasn’t started a game in any competition since August.

However, tomorrow’s return leg with Liverpool might well see him reclaim a spot in Mikel Arteta’s starting lineup.

Of course, he wouldn’t be there as first-choice because let’s be honest, Takehiro Tomiyasu is Arsenal’s primary right-back and will be for the rest of the season.

But the Japan international missed the first Carabao Cup semi-final through injury and although the former Bologna player has been passed fit, Arteta, who also has Soares available again, may well select the Englishman.

Arteta is a fan of Chambers and used him very early on, prior to the 26-year-old suffering a season-ending injury against Chelsea a little over two years ago.

And the truth is that Chambers – who cost Arsenal £16 million under Arsene Wenger almost eight years ago – is simply a better option than Soares, assuming Arteta does indeed rest Tomiyasu – which he should.

Getting into a cup final is important for the North Londoners, but so is qualifying for a Champions League spot.

At this stage of the campaign, rotation is massive and preserving Tomiyasu for Premier League games by alternating him with Chambers for tomorrow night is logical.