What a performance π
Backed up by Sokratis, we need to buy some more sticky back plastic to continue taping Koscielny up and keep him playing because heβs light years ahead of the hapless Mustafi...
Koscielny...
posted on 19/4/19
When he’s partnered with Sokratis they both work very well. We seem to weirdly and quite un-Arsenal like command the box aerially and win interceptions well. Maybe because they both quite fast, and especially with Sokratis are up for a fight in the air, so it’s worked quite well. Benefits of having 2 quite experienced CB Playing i guess
posted on 19/4/19
He's 33 and will be 34 come September. However, as evidenced by some recovery documentary videos on Arsenal.com his rehabilitation has hopefully made him stronger and fitter than ever before - apparently this is despite his advancing age but i do find it hard to believe that someone approaching 35 who has suffered from his fair share of injuries could not be suffering from at least a slight natural decline physically.
I'm hopeful we can get another couple of seasons out of him but we certainly need to be and should have already been thinking about a succession plan and who is the right young CB to replace him eventually.
Despite the odd mistake here and there throughout his Arsenal career (he's only human after all) Koscielny has remained my firm favourite Arsenal defender for a significant number of years now. We are generally far more solid when he plays and even at his age he is still quite quick and capable of making recovery tackles / great blocks, he rarely gets run ragged by pacey forwards because he's no slouch and he doesn't regularly gift the ball away needlessly like Mustafi with s/-/it long balls. More so than anything though he has always worn his heart on his sleeve for Arsenal and that's why he's captain, he puts the effort in and that is reflected in more clean sheets / fewer goals conceded when he plays.
It could be a very nice back-3 of him, Sokratis and Holding next season. Maitland-Niles has been excellent overall and I wouldn't play Bellerin over him personally, feel Ainsley offers a lot more defensively and hoping he gets an England call up at some point now. Monreal has become one of our weakest defenders in my opinion and is really not suited to playing in a back 3, nor is he quick enough anymore to play left wing-back, would not be disappointed if we moved him on this summer.
posted on 19/4/19
Agree with all that but Bellerin ahead of AMN every day of the week. AMN should be playing at CM next season
posted on 19/4/19
AMN is improving a lot but yeah would adjust him to the CM role. Still suspect with his attacking play but his natural engine and tackling tenacity would be welcome alongside Torreira.
posted on 19/4/19
Bellerin must be a doubt for the start of next season?
posted on 19/4/19
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 13 minutes ago
Bellerin must be a doubt for the start of next season?
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Quite possibly considering the new season will commence in what? About 3 and a half months.
posted on 19/4/19
2 months if we finish 6th and Watford win the FA Cup
posted on 19/4/19
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 27 minutes ago
2 months if we finish 6th and Watford win the FA Cup
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Europe Qualifiers
posted on 19/4/19
*Europa even
posted on 19/4/19
If Bellers ain’t ready for next season then we need to buy a new RB. Can’t see Lichy or Jenkinson playing here next season and hopefully not Mustafi either