After a goalless first half, Chambers was introduced in the 55th minute and the 26-year-old broke the deadlock with his first touch of the game.
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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was understandably happy to see Calum Chambers and Eddie Nketiah settle the Carabao Cup tie with Leeds on Tuesday night. After a goalless first half at Emirates Stadium, Chambers was introduced in the 55th minute. What an introduction it was, as the 26-year-old broke the deadlock with his first touch of the game. Emile Smith Rowe swung in an in-swinging cross to the far post where Nicolas Pepe headed it back across goal for Chambers to head home. Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier scrambled the ball clear but the ball had already crossed the line. It was the Englishman’s first goal since September 2019. Eddie Nketiah then sealed the win in the 69th minute with Arsenal’s second of the night.
Asked whether he’s ever made a substitute with such an instant impact, Arteta, as per the club’s website, told the media, “I don’t think so. I am so happy in particular for Calum, he totally deserves it. It was a great moment as it helped us win the game, and it’s someone who deserves the best for who he is as a person and how he behaves as a professional.”
Arteta also opened about making many changes to the Starting XI for the midweek clash. “It was a decision that… I can’t keep demanding players to do what they do every day, and to keep believing that they can get in the team and ask them to raise the level [without giving them a chance to play] and I trust them. I was calm as I know that they can do it. Obviously it was against a tough opponent,” he added.
The manager also praised Eddie Nketiah’s performance on the night. “I have no doubts about what he can offer. Whatever you throw at him, he wants more, and demands more of himself, and he’s another one that I am delighted to see the performance and for him to score the goal and help the team, because he totally deserves it. But there’s a lot of players who play in that position, and with a personal situation [with his contract running down], but I try to leave that aside and try to [reward him] because he deserves it,” he added.
Speaking about Nketiah’s future, the manager said, “Yes, but we had a situation in the summer that we tried to resolve and we couldn’t either way. The contract situation is more and more common in football, from where we are coming from with Covid and a lot of issues we have to resolve. I have full belief that he is going to be a top player and hopefully at Arsenal.”
On Ben White’s fitness, Arteta said, “No, there is a bug going on, we lost Pablo today as he wasn’t feeling great and Ben had it as well in the last day or two. He wasn’t feeling great, so we decided to take him off.” He also provided updates on Kieran Tierney and Martin Odegaard’s fitness. “They were both out with two different injuries. They tried yesterday but they didn’t feel great, they wanted to be involved but they didn’t feel good enough to be selected today and hopefully in the next few days they can feel better and be available for Leicester.”
