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It looks like ‘duo’ of Laurent Koscielny and Nacho Monreal will start against Southampton

By Rishabh

Posted on December 16, 2018

Koscielny looks poised to start the game on Sunday as arsenal travel to Southampton to take on struggling saints.

Having been injured at the end of last season, the French defender didn’t play a single minute of competitive football until midweek where he played for the majority of game, keeping Qarabag at bay. He was subbed off for Nacho Montreal, another defender who is returning from injury, indication Lolo would be starting against Southampton.

The duo had been rock solid in defence for Arsenal over the years having made a combined total of 408 league appearances. Winning 3 FA cups in the process. But injuries, poor form and age have had their tole on both of them.

Injury forced Koscielny to sit out of France’s World Cup winning campaign while Monreal was overlooked by Lopetugi for Spain.

Arsenal’s first choice defenders Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Shkodran Mustafi are suspended for the weekend, both of whom serve suspensions for five yellow League carpets for the season.

[Premier League rules stipulate that any player reaching five bookings must serve a one-match ban.]

Laurent Koscielny is expected to fill in for the Gunners against Southampton with Rob Holding out of the season and Nacho Monreal the expected partner. Arsenal also have Julio Pleguezuelo, the reserve skipper is also an option to slot in at Centre-Back.

But putting their recent past aside, both of them are expected to take the field on Sunday with extra motivation to convince Arsenal manager Unai Emery that they both still very much belong at Arsenal.

Saints are a team in crisis and for Arsenal, it’s an opportunity to try and experiment their squad and with Rob Holding out for a considerable time, a decent performance will make a huge impact on Emery’s plan and will push their chances for a berth in starting XI.