Arsenal Vs Liverpool: Laurent Koscielny Return A Game-Changer

Laurent Koscielny will return for Arsenal against Liverpool after suffering an injury in the loss to Bayern Munich. That is a game-changer for the Gunners.

While Arsenal’s recent struggles have seen them exit the Champions League and Premier League in a rather predictable fashion, that does not mean that this season is over. Far from it. There is still the FA Cup, in which the Gunners should find their way through to the semi-finals, and there is still the fight for the top four.

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As the season comes to a climax, the fight for the top four begins with a trip to Anfield for the Saturday evening kick-off. Jurgen Klopp’s team have been in dire form recently, winning just two games in 2017 and just one in the Premier League, culminating in a 3-1 demolition at the hands of Leicester City on Monday night.

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Arsenal have also not been at their exquisite best. Individuals suffering from a loss of form, a few untimely suspensions and key injuries have seen particular positions decimated through injury, and as such, the Gunners’ results and performances have tailed off badly. Both teams are entering Saturday’s game short on confidence and form and a quick glance at the table illustrates how important this game is.

Wenger’s men sit just a point above their Merseyside rivals with a game in hand. Win on Saturday, and they can put themselves in a position to stretch seven points ahead. That would be significant in their quest to qualify for the Champions League in every season under Wenger’s tutelage.

That is why the return of Laurent Koscielny is so important. Liverpool are a team that pose a great attacking threat. They have a multitude of weapons, playing in a fluid, interchangeable manner that can cause opposition defences a great number of problems. Organisation and communication are key in stifling their dynamic, attacking moves.

When Koscielny was subbed off early in the second half against Bayern, it was immediately clear the issues Arsenal had in organising themselves. Gabriel Paulista came in for the Frenchman, playing alongside Shkodran Mustafi, and while both are individually adept defenders, they lack the leadership qualities to replicate the absent character with Koscielny on the sidelines.

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Trips to Anfield have not been kind for Arsenal in recent years. It was not all that long ago when Sterling, Sturridge and Suarez shimmied their way to a five-goal dismantling of the Gunners. Win and Wenger and his players can begin to believe in another top four position. That is why the return of Koscielny is true game-changer.