Arsenal great challenges Koscielny to play true captain’s role

It would be a bigger surprise than Arsenal finishing below our north London rivals Tottenham this season if the Arsenal club captain Mikel Arteta was named in the starting line up set to face the league leaders at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

And after The Brazilian defender Gabriel started the last two games ahead of our vice-captain Per Mertesacker in the centre of defence, it looks very unlikely that the BFG will start against the pace and counter attacking threat of Leicester City.

That means that Laurent Koscielny is set to be the on field Arsenal captain once again and the former defensive rock of the Gunners, Martin Keown, has challenged the current one to step up and show some real leadership to his team mates in this crucial clash at the top, as reported by the Evening Standard.

Keown spent a huge part of his Arsenal career alongside perhaps our greatest captain ever in Tony Adams and Keown would love to see some of the great man’s qualities from Koscielny, especially by taking charge and keeping the flying forward Jamie Vardy under control.

He said, “Arsenal will need a plan to stop Jamie Vardy. He is like a skimming stone across the water and has been magnificent.

“He is supremely confident and his ability to change direction quickly and run into the channels is unsurpassed.

“As a defender, you can’t afford to dive in. You have to make sure you are there early when the ball goes into the channel. You have to anticipate well.

“It’s not enough to be quick, you have to understand the game and how Vardy plays. He wants the ball played behind the defence so he can run on to it, particularly down the left-hand side…

“Laurent Koscielny will need to see that move before it happens and make sure he is in position to prevent it. If Koscielny is the new leader of the defence, let’s see it.”

Do you think we will see it from Kos the boss, or will Vardy add to the the two goals he scored against Arsenal in the match at Leicester?