Pick your Arsenal defence with Koscielny AND Kolasinac out?

Arsenal fans, and Arsene Wenger of course, will be hoping that he does not have to select his Arsenal side to face Brighton tomorrow without the French centre back Laurent Koscielny or the left sided summer signing Sead Kolasinac being available, but in the injury update he gave to the Arsenal website the boss did suggest it was a possibility.

He said, “We have a doubt about Laurent Koscielny unfortunately and he will have a test tomorrow. It’s an achilles problem, it’s ongoing. I think everybody else should be available. Sead Kolasinac had some problems, but he is available.”

If the problem worsens or if Wenger thinks it is too risky then he may decide not to play the Bosnian and one of the first options to replace him in that left wing back role would be Nacho Monreal, but the Spaniard is also the first choice for the left sided of three players at the back and without Koscielny that leaves Holding or Mustafi with Mertesacker in the middle.

That would be the same back three that played against BATE Borisov in Belarus on Thursday, though, and they did not touch down back in London until Friday morning, so that is hardly ideal. I would much prefer to have the energy of Monreal back there to be honest.

That would mean some other player at left wing back, perhaps Maitland-Niles, unless Wenger went to back four and that could be the better option for a game where the defence should not be as troubles as in a lot of others. With Monreal and Bellerin at full back and the two German centre backs in the middle, Wenger could go to his two in central midfield with three attackers in front and a central striker, like so.

Cech
Bellerin, Mertesacker, Mustafi, Monreal
Ramsey, Xhaka
Walcott, Iwobi, Alexis
Lacazette

Assuming the worst about Koscielny and Kolasinac, is this how you would line Arsenal’s defence up?

Bob.

8 Comments

  1. Why do you question whether Kolasinac will play yet then quote AW saying he is available! Talk about fake news

  2. News flash for you. Wilshire will be playing today. Mark my words. Elneny played 2 fixtures in a row. Jack did not. Plus Wenger heaped praise on him. Wilshire to start in midfield in place of injured Ozil.

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