%20rotate(-8.06)%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22336.19%20136.81%20330.16%2094.25%20326.06%2071.19%20326.44%2071.13%20335.22%2093.54%20352.29%20134.52%20373.95%20131.46%20362.7%2052.01%20350.02%2053.8%20356.05%2096.36%20360.15%20119.42%20359.77%20119.48%20350.99%2097.08%20333.91%2056.09%20312.25%2059.15%20323.51%20138.6%20336.19%20136.81%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22402.91%2059.3%20412.36%20126.02%20427.17%20123.92%20417.72%2057.21%20431.59%2055.24%20429.79%2042.51%20387.23%2048.53%20389.04%2061.27%20402.91%2059.3%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22463.51%20118.77%20458.69%2084.71%20474.68%2082.44%20479.51%20116.5%20494.36%20114.4%20483.11%2034.95%20468.26%2037.06%20472.96%2070.25%20456.96%2072.52%20452.26%2039.32%20437.4%2041.43%20448.65%20120.88%20463.51%20118.77%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22540.5%20107.87%20538.77%2095.68%20518.91%2098.49%20515.77%2076.29%20535.63%2073.47%20533.93%2061.5%20514.07%2064.32%20511.11%2043.42%20530.98%2040.61%20529.25%2028.42%20494.53%2033.34%20505.78%20112.78%20540.5%20107.87%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22299.03%20155.17%20301.29%20171.58%20542.78%20138.39%20540.5%20121.97%20299.03%20155.17%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
Arsenal Vs Spurs: The Necessary Linchpin Cannot Afford To Miss The Derby
Laurent Koscielny is struggling to be fit for Arsenal’s trip to White Hart Lane on Sunday. The Gunners cannot afford their necessary linchpin to be missing.
Although 14 points separate the two North London clubs in the Premier League this season, with Tottenham Hotspur, for the first time in Arsene Wenger’s 21-year tenure at Arsenal likely to reign supreme at the end of the season, it is sure to be an immensely competitive game on Sunday, with the pride of North London, and title and top four hopes on the line for either club.
Related Story: Arsene Wenger's Best Starting XI
The win for both sides is desperately needed, especially the Gunners, after a series of underwhelming months that have seen them slip down the Premier League rankings, exit the Champions League in historically humiliating fashion, and find their future engulfed in uncertainty and doubt.
More from Pain in the Arsenal
- 3 observations from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
- 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
- 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
- Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
- 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
To win, they will have to keep a Spurs’ attack that has been potent throughout the latter half of the season. The interchangeable positioning of Dele Alli and Harry Kane, the creativity and ingenuity of Christian Eriksen, and the pace and width provided from the overlapping full-backs make Spurs an incredibly difficult team to defend against.
And it could be the case that Arsenal must undertake such a task without the services of their best and most accomplished defender. Laurent Koscielny picked up a knock late on the in over Leicester City on Wednesday night and, although he did make his way back onto the pitch to end the game, there is significant doubt regarding whether he will be fit enough to start against Spurs on Sunday.
When asked about the Frenchman’s injury issues, looking forward to the prospect of him missing the North London derby, Wenger was unable to give any specific details regarding his issue:
"“Koscielny has a knee problem. I don’t know how bad it is.”"
Whether Koscielny will indeed start or not on Sunday remains to be seen. But if he is absent, it will be a major for Arsenal. More than being the best individual defender in the squad, he is the organiser of the defence, the primary communicator and leader of an aspect of the team that have looked worryingly frail with him on the sidelines.
Next: Arsenal Vs Spurs: Predicted Starting XI
Koscielny is the linchpin of this side. It could even be argued that he is the most important player in the squad, regardless of role and position. If he were to miss the weekend’s North London derby, then the Gunners’ task in overcoming a very good Spurs side has just got a whole lot tougher.