The good news for Arsenal supporters is that their team are suddenly addicted to winning trophies. The bad news is that an alternative universe exists in which Edin Dzeko raced past Calum Chambers to score the equaliser that gave Manchester City the impetus to win the Community Shield and everyone responded by stating that Arsenal cannot get away with playing a 19-year-old at centre-back if they want to be successful.

Back in reality, however, Dzeko let Chambers off the hook by trying to find a team-mate, the chance was lost and when Arsenal broke, Aaron Ramsey doubled their lead. The narrative swung in favour of Chambers and Arsène Wenger was able to heap praise on his new signing.

These little incidents can colour our perception of players. Such kneejerk reactions are never helpful but Chambers must have been panicking as Dzeko, who is not noted for his pace, sped off into the distance. It was a moment that had the potential to undermine Chambers and there would have been greater scrutiny if Dzeko had scored. Instead we are talking about how assured he looked on his Arsenal debut.

The truth is that aside from that one hairy moment, Chambers was excellent and his performance may be enough to convince Wenger that he does not need to sign another centre-back, even though Arsenal only have three after the sale of Thomas Vermaelen to Barcelona. Wenger is already sounding like the president of the Calum Chambers fan club and he will be given opportunities to challenge Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker.

Initially there was surprise when it became apparent that Wenger sees Chambers as a centre-back after he joined Arsenal from Southampton last month in a deal that could rise to £16m. He was an attacking right-back at Southampton, competing with Nathaniel Clyne for a place in the side, and he never played in the middle.

Yet Chambers is a versatile player. He can be used as a right midfielder or in a holding role and although Wenger made up his mind to buy him after seeing him at right-back in Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Southampton in January, he has played at centre-back for England Under-19. Southampton expected him to end up in that position and it has been a smooth transition for him at Arsenal.

Chambers mostly looked like a natural alongside Koscielny in the first half at Wembley, bringing the ball out of defence confidently and showing good positional awareness, and City were restricted to a handful of opportunities. What was particularly encouraging was the way he was proactive in retrieving possession, regularly pushing high up the pitch and pinning back City’s attackers.

The youngster showed no inhibitions around his new team-mates and on one occasion he won the ball in City’s half and started a move which almost resulted in a goal for Arsenal, suggesting that they are going to benefit from his sense of adventure. He is a very modern footballer in that sense; a defender who will rely on his speed, anticipation and reading of the game, rather than one who will be throwing himself into shuddering challenges.

The art of defending is becoming less gnarled as the game becomes less physical and that explains why Wenger likes Chambers so much. Yet defenders still need an edge and the concern for Arsenal must be his lack of experience. Chambers, who was often Clyne’s deputy, made his Premier League debut for Southampton last season and an injury to either Koscielny or Mertesacker would place unwanted pressure on his young shoulders. It would surely be an oversight for Arsenal not to find extra cover.

Mertesacker returned to training only on Monday after being given extra time off following Germany’s World Cup win and Koscielny’s substitution at half-time because of a tight achilles meant that Chambers was partnered by Nacho Monreal, who is unconvincing enough at left-back, in the second half. Arsenal were more vulnerable and Stevan Jovetic twice threatened for City.

However, Wenger’s argument is that available centre-backs are in short supply and he pointed out that both Barcelona and Manchester United wanted Vermaelen, who could not get in the Arsenal team. His case is backed up by the number of legendary centre-backs who bemoaned the standard of defending at the World Cup.

This could also be a case of Wenger being Wenger, though. Why buy another centre-back when all he really wants is to see Chambers succeed?