Most Arsenal fans, and that includes me, are hoping that the next few weeks sees Arsene Wenger make some great moves in the transfer market, although it is beginning to look yet again that we are going to start the new season without the signings we were all hoping for and expecting after the disappointment of missing the Premier League title last time.
One of the main priorities in the minds of Gooners is another top quality centre back but unless the manager gets his finger out he is not going to get one in time for the EPL opener against Liverpool next month. We are also going to have to do without the France international star Laurent Koscielny for that big game as well because of his prolonged involvement in Euro 2016.
As soon as he is back and fit, though, the Frenchman will be an automatic starter for us and that will give the Gunners a very solid base on which to build a title challenge, according to his team mate Per Mertesacker who has been talking about his partner in glowing terms in an Arsenal.com report this week.
The BFG has played alongside some of the most highly rated centre backs in the world during his 10 years as a Germany international, so his being so impressed by Koscielny and the way his club colleague has continued to improve into o0ne of the best in the business says a lot. The German also thinks that Koscielny is still not as good as he is going to be at his peak and that is great news for Arsenal if true.
Mertesacker said, “To watch him is a joy for me because he’s my team-mate. He’s done so well for his country.
“It’s really fun to watch him. He did so well during the tournament and he’s grown as a player during his career at Arsenal and with the national team, he’s a figure there now. It took a bit longer for him to be such a big part of the French squad but now he’s an integral part there.
“He’s very good in a duel, one against one. He anticipates so well and he’s so quick that there’s no joy for strikers to play against him. He’s so composed now and I think there’s more to come from him next season.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing him again and seeing his strength on the pitch because he’s still growing.”
The question for Arsenal fans, however, is not whether Koscielny is good enough but whether the pairing of him and our BFG is good enough to give Arsenal the platform to become EPL champions again. They definitely have a great understanding and possess different qualities to complement each other’s game but is that enough or do Arsenal need a big defender transfer to avoid another season without the title?
Bob.