Arsenal: Laurent Koscielny exit undermines the biggest strength

Laurent Koscielny is being linked with a move to AC Milan. If he does indeed leave Arsenal, then his exit would undermine the biggest strength of the squad: centre-half.

For many, many years, Arsenal’s centre-half options were far from what was needed. It was an annual ritual where I, in utter desperation and disbelief at Arsene Wenger’s blindness and stupidity, would question how a dominating, commanding, leading defender had not been signed to address the side’s painfully exposed defensive weaknesses.

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And yet, year on year on year, Wenger would choose to persist with the same old, weak-willed players that continued to let him down. It was a little ridiculous that a man of such apparent intelligence could not see the blatant issues that were plaguing the side.

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However, over the past two years, gradually, Wenger has begun to address the biggest weakness of his squad. The first addition was Gabriel Paulista, a hard-nosed, tough-tackling, impassioned Brazilian. He also added Calum Chambers and Rob Holding as prospective youngsters before making the key signing of Shkodran Mustafi last summer in a £35 million deal.

It was that last transfer that allowed Wenger to send Chambers out on loan and demote Per Mertesacker to a reserve role. It has brought together a group of experienced, accomplished, varied players that Wenger can turn to in a number of different circumstances, even allowing him to be flexible in the system that he plays, shifting to a three-at-the-back formation towards the end of the season.

However, while Arsenal’s defensive issues still remain – these are a result of the approach, rather than the players, but that is a piece for another day – there is one man that is at the heart of their impressive personnel options: Laurent Koscielny.

The Frenchman has been integral to the defence, anchoring the back-four as an aggressive, dominating centre-half, blessed with a great reading of the game and a wonderful turn of pace that allows him to spin into the channels and track the runs of opposing centre-forwards.

Take Koscielny out the squad, and suddenly, the options that are left are rather underwhelming. That is why the recent rumours linking him with an exit to AC Milan are so concerning. With a lack of Champions League football available at the Emirates, there is a conceivable possibility that Koscielny could force the last move of his career to another European giant.

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While there are defensive shortcomings that must be addressed over the summer, the biggest priority is ensuring one of the Premier League’s best defenders stays put. Losing Koscielny would undermine Arsenal’s biggest (weirdly) strength.