Laurent Koscielny has been named the Arsenal Vitality Player of the Month for August, but is he the stand-out player so far this season?
The French defender missed the opening weekend loss to Liverpool, before returning to help our side to deny Leicester City the three points with a strong defensive display. The 30 year-old was rightly chosen for the Man of the Match award for his outstanding performance against the Premier League champions.
Koscielny was also key in helping to beat Watford 3-1 the following week, and his leadership has also helped Rob Holding to looked assured at the back despite his young age.
The young centre-back was a close second to his defensive partner in the running for the monthly award, which will come as a huge boost to the 20 year-old who had suffered a 4-3 loss on his competitive debut only weeks ago.
Alexis Sanchez was third in the running for the award, collecting just over a sixth of the votes, although playing a a makeshift number 10 for the opening two matches did little to impress me.
Granit Xhaka was awarded the Man of the Match award for the Watford win, but did not make the top three, while Santi Cazorla was also overlooked despite picking a goal and two assists from the opening calendar month, and Walcott overlooked despite scoring once and setting up one also.
Who do you think deserved our first month’s award? Were Kosc and Holding the stand-out performers for the JustArsenal readers also?
I agree. He didn’t play against Liverpool. He played well against Leicester. I remember He stopped Vardy from scoring in that game. He was good as well against Watford. Even Holding admits how he feels better playing with an experience CB in Koscieny.
Congrats Kos the boss……Mustafi will learn from Him as well. Mustafi is an experience CB but just 24. Incredible!
its this simple no kos…no party
ya dig?
I would say yes.
He didn’t have Mert or Gabs or Mustafi (has just arrived) as his partner
He kept the defense together
That said, Holding has done admirably too
im being moderated…l
im flattered admin..but im already spoken for.
care to explain 🙂
I was too
Don’t know why
Umm I have NO pending comments to be approved. From anyone…..
I voted for Rob Holding. I think he did amazing well for the 3 games. I didn’t vote of boss because our first game against Liverpool he told the boss he was too tired to play. No leader in a dressing room with a depleted defense against Liverpool first game of the season says they are too tired to play! I have a lot of respect for boss but I was disappointed in that.
i don’t think Koscielny had much say in the matter…
I heard this from Lee Dixon during commentary during the Leicester City game. You think anyone could have stopped Henry, Vieria , Adamns or Bold wouldn’t have played? Take a Look at CR7 he would have been out there !! No disrespect to the boss he is the best defender we have and a top defender in the world.
Maybe Kos realises when he is not ready and likely to get injured. At the time of the pool game there was no credible backup for kos.
I would have given it to Sanchez because:
A) His played in every game and didn’t get much of an extended break.
B) He always give 100%
C) His still a Gunner and he didn’t force a move away, in the summer.
Wenger 1
Mourinho 0
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger reportedly tried to stop old foe and Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho from sitting next to him at a UEFA conference.
The pair both attended the event in Nyon last week along with a number of top coaches from around Europe including Carlo Ancelotti, Massimiliano Allegri and Zinedine Zidane, while Sir Alex Ferguson hosted and also gave a speech.
While it all remained cordial on the whole, Marcaclaim there was incident when Mourinho arrived late and was looking for a spare seat and saw one opposite Zidane and Unai Emery.
The report suggests that when he asked if the seat was free, Wenger was quick to respond with: “No, it’s not possible,” which was met with some laughter while others continued to pretend they hadn’t heard it.
@ Admin
Hahaha ? I take it that you are going to do an Article about that story, then? ?
That’s twice that it went straight into the Bermuda Triangle lol
Hmm there IS something strange going on. Even your post above was moderated with the message “Awaiting spam check”
I think the spam filter website must be having problems…..
Nothing to do with me anyway I assure you…..
Now got Error message……
XXXXXXXX has detected a problem.
Some comments have not yet been checked for spam by XXXXXXX. They have been temporarily held for moderation and will automatically be rechecked later.
He rili brought in an air of confidence wen he came in against Leicester City and i guess he has started affecting Holding positively… Hopefully he will click with new partner Mustafi