Analysis

Liverpool fixture shows exactly, WHY Arsenal need LAURENT KOSCIELNY

By Utsav Mehta

Posted on January 1, 2019

A fully confident and enthusiastic travel to Anfield was ceased with a dismal performance wholly infused with defensive errors. Jurgen Klopp’s troop thrashed the visitors ruthlessly, conquering the contest with a 5-1 victory over the Gunners. The win continued Liverpool’s unbeaten run in the Premier League to 20 games.

The fans before the start expected a nail-bitter but the analysts of ArsenalCore had already predicted the loss that the defence of Gunners would have to go through in absence of Arsenal great, Laurent Koscielny. The Frenchman who is out with an Achilles rupture from May 2018, has been badly missed, more so in last game against Liverpool.

Be it the stats of possession or the attempts made on goal from Liverpool, all are a testimony of the fact that Arsenal miss their priceless possession “Laurent Koscielny”. The Reds demolition was smooth throughout the game, accompanied with a dreary performance from the visitors.

The 33-year-old who has impacted the back-half for already good number of years has caused innumerable sources of concern for Emery who wants him back the earliest. What Laurent has mastered in over the years is the game sense and positioning abilities which helps him to be on the right place at the right time. The same thing that Arsenal missed last game, someone who could spot on the incoming threat and weather the storm with ease.

Emery had said before the match that ‘defence is the difference between them and us’ which purely explains the value Koscielny puts in. The vulnerability is spotting long passes made it further unavoidable for the visitors to make their presence felt. Neither did Arsenal pick the balls from Liverpool nor did they tackle successfully.

While the January transfer window comes in lieu of new signings, it also brings a break as well as plentiful time for the 33-year-old Frenchman to return back and help Arsenal retain top four spot.