This summers transfer window finally saw Arsene Wenger spend some money, in an obvious attempt to strengthen his squad and please the fans with some established players coming in.
The most notable signings were that of Brazilian full-back Andre Santos and German centre-back Per Mertesacker to fill in and improve Arsenal’s defence – an area much criticized by the fans and media alike as the Gunners Achilles heel.
With Andre Santos set to fill in the left-back role vacated by Gael Clichy and Mertesacker set to play along side Thomas Vermaelen, what now for Laurent Koscielny and Johan Djourou?
Though Djourou says he is not worried about Per Mertesacker’s £8million arrival at Arsenal, quite frankly, he should be.
The 24-year-old Swiss centre-back recently stated:
‘Mertesacker’s arrival may mean direct competition for me. But I am used to it, it does not frighten me.’
Yes, Mertesacker brings in competition for Djourou and the others, but with the likes of Squillaci and Koscielny to fight with for a starting role, Per brings a whole new challenge along with him, as he is not as prone to mistakes as Johan, Laurent and Sebastien are.
With Mertesacker and Vermaelen looking highly likely to be the starters of the Gunners defence this season, it might just make those on the sidelines improve their overall game and work a little harder in order to please the manager and claim a position in the Arsenal starting XI.
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Since his injury last year Djourou hasn’t looked good at all. Mertesacker will compete more directly with Koscielny to start games alongside TV, who is our clear no.1 at the moment (although it wouldn’t be surprising if the vastly experienced German took over that status by next season). Whenever TV and Kos have played together this season, the defense has looked rock solid (except for when we get red cards), so adding Mertesacker just means we should have three very reliable CBs. I’m still convinced that Djourou can reach the required level, as he has shown it in spells over the last couple of years, but I think 4th choice is right for him at the moment, so he won’t be forced to mature into this very difficult role so quickly. People need to remember he is not a natural CB, he only really started playing there a few years ago, and still played DM quite a bit when on loan at Birmingham. Throw in all the injuries he’s suffered, it’s not hard to see why he is still making mistakes, but I do believe he will get there.
Miquel could be the one to put more pressure on Djourou now, though. Squillaci looks out of it now, and Miquel looked much improved against Liverpool, compared to the games with Orient last season.
Djorou should be competing with miquel nt even kos cos hes a crap.simple
haha yes simple he is absolutely CRAP – not as crap as squilachi tho or senderos but useless
Correct
Senderos was mint until drogba abused him in that charity shield game. Never recovered. Bless him.
Agreed
I think having this range of Centre backs is good. Koscielny is very good when the ball is on the ground and he’s shown he’s good at intercepting passes and stopping players when they are dribbling in a dangerous area. Mertesacker is strong, tall and a very good figure to have in set pieces. You would not want to mix them around too often, centre backs are meant to be a pair for a large amount of games, but Koscielny would be great to play with TV against smaller and faster teams, Mertesacker would be good to play in the prem, where strength and height is needed, especially against the likes of Stoke and Bolton.
And if there is need for it, we have the talent to be able to play 5 at the back…
Sagna Koscielny Mertesacker Vermaelen Santos
That’s a lineup that looks VERY hard to score against.
I think Djourou will improve, we should give him and Miquel chances when we can. Maybe put them on loan to a team where they can play often and have a physically demanding job to do regularly. It could help them build confidence. Maybe this will mean we end up with Djourou having potential, but still being unable to break through past the others. So he may want to leave in order to play more, but he cost us nothing so that wouldn’t be so bad anyway would it?
The thing about Djourou is that he has a mixture of qualities only VERY few CBs in world football have. He combines height, strength and power with real pace and skill on the ball. I can think of only Kompany and David Luiz who have those attributes off in the PL off the top of my head, although Phil Jones might be another.
He looked weak for the first goal vs Utd, but it is perplexing why he was able to completely control drogba and other big CFs last season, but this year he get’s pushed back by the relatively small wellbeck. Mentally he has issues, which he must get past.
We mustn’t forget that last season we were very tight at the back for a while last season when JD and Kos had a run of games together, and for that reason I don’t think we could loan Djourou out – it would be too big a step back. He needs time to grow up mentally and focus himself for these games as he just hasn’t looked right since the shoulder injury. Being fourth choice for the meantime is perfect for him, just so he can get the odd game, and learn from the more experienced CBs. As mentioned, the trouble he faces is that Miquel might be catching up, and I think Bartley will be looking good next year, as long as his injury problems don’t get in the way.
Davi – spot on.
Give me a now more experienced Szczesny behind Merte, TV5 and Song and watch the clean sheets stack up – as you said, absent EPL biased red cards.
Sagna and Santos on the flanks and I’m starting to think our back 6 is near level competitive with any in England if not Europe.
I for one don’t like him at d dence line he doesn’t look like a defender to me mr wenger should trade him for another good defender cos he is not a rival to per mesi at all
True
Djourou is panicky, Miquel is better than him.I am relieved that we no longer have to rely on him.It would be a miracle if he starts a Premier league game when TV, Per and Kosser are fit.
As a bonus I think Vermaelon, Djourou and Kos are more than capable of filling in and doing a good job in the defensive midfield role, especially useful being able to bring one on as a sub to close a game out. They all have the needed technical attributes to excel in that role.
Djourou was one of our best players last season, I thought I best point this out before any more rubbish is said about the guy.
The competition is not going to be as stiff as people think with TV being injured almost permanently these days and Mertesacker also having injury issues.
That’s a worry. Whoever plays, being able to field a consistent pair at the back is pretty important, particularly given that the confidence must be pretty low right now.
One of our best players ? Look again. He was fit to play … that’s it. He is easily bullied by a big forward. He makes mistakes and watches the ball … not his man.
Nobody arrival should b a threat for now. All they need is have d right frame of mind step up their game.
It’s not about him b