If you ask around, people will say that our best centre-back is Thomas Vermaelen. He is a complete defender, who has great aerial ability, pace, positioning and a wicked left foot, as well as a dog fighting spirit. He can also shift across the left side of defence.
True to the general opinion, Vermaelen has proven to be a dependable cover who not only protects his goalkeeper, but also exposes opposing shot-stoppers as he has done on five occasions already this season, sometimes rescuing his team from defeat or bagging them a victory.
The Belgian international has been vital to our team line-up since his arrival from Ajax and he’s featured constantly for us, except for when he had the plantaris tendon in both ankles removed, sidelining him for up to a season in total.
There has always been a buzz of who will pair up with TV5 when he is fit, but the unsung hero in the Arsenal rearguard since his arrival from Lorient has been Laurent Koscielny.
Kos has steadily grown and adapted into the English game from his sending off debut at Anfield a couple of years back.
The Frenchman has proven to be a solid cover when called upon and this young man has not failed to impress. He has had his own fair share of injuries ranging from thigh strains to knee injuries and back problems. At 25, he has showed immense qualities which include speed, ball playing ability, strength, agility, tenacity, tactical position, as well as passion to win. Koscielny has also shown good versatility, as he has deputised fairly well when he’s been pushed to the full-back position to cover Bacary Sagna.
Koscielny, like Vermaelen, has an eye for goal and also possesses a good knack for bursting into the opposing half from deep to provide an attacking outlet. One thing that fascinates me about this Kos is his one-on-one ability, as he is not one to be beaten easily even by the best strikers in the world. He is a type of player that would get one for the team rather than allow an opponent to break through on goal. Simply put, Kosher would rather commit a foul than see an opposing striker leave him for dead, though he never really plays himself into such positions.
Koscielny is a gun,and has been totally underrated by Gooners since joining the club.
Agree!. Himself song and the ever improving rock sczeshney have been the un sung heros. Arsenal til i die.
the best one v one defender in the league…opta stats
I think he’s a better man marker than Verm, and in many ways a better defender. Like Woodgate would have become if the poor bloke hadn’t been so ridden with injury.. Probably the best man marker in the league and up there with the great Italians …. But he’s less of an organiser or captain than Verm… so the Keown/Adams comparison is a good one. Our centre backs are so good at bringing the ball out of defense when there is nobody to pass to. Excited at where this partnership will lead!
Koscielny is the better defender, but TV is a great all-round player. I’d like to see him played as an attacking CB in a 3-man defence, like Beckenbauer. That could really work imo.