Arsenal: Sead Kolasinac should have midfield future

Arsenal’s loss against Stoke City is bringing up a lot of important subjects, but let’s go way off the beaten path and talk about Sead Kolasinac playing midfield.

Arsenal showed a lot of grit and determination to pull out three points against Leicester City but they showed the complete opposite against Stoke City. Especially in the last five minutes, when the team was just a great big blob of ‘bleghhh.’

It was also a shocker from a suddenly inept midfield and another jumbled defense. All of which contributed to the big problem at hand of transition game and stopping the attack with less than desirable numbers behind the ball.

Sead Kolasinac is already playing a bit role in this, but I could see a future where he plays an even bigger role.

From the midfield.

You see, people are obsessed with the idea that the Gunners need an N’Golo Kante type midfielder who can win the ball back and while I always counter with the fact that we have good ol’ Francis Coquelin to play that role, even I have to admit that that’s hardly a solution.

The best ball winner on this team as of right now is looking like Kolasinac. His ability to snatch the ball away and maintain it is unlike anyone else’s. It happens to quickly and cleanly and then he’s off to the races.

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Seeing as how he keeps getting played in a less-than-perfect role in the back three (seriously, why does Wenger insist on playing him there?) wouldn’t it make more sense to let him try his hand at the midfield?

Now, granted, I don’t know who would be replaced, either Aaron Ramsey or Granit Xhaka, seeing as how they both have such a defined role. Especially in the attack. But in any event, Kolasinac would fit in well there with his underrated creativity and his ability to win and maintain the ball.

All of this could be fixed if they would just play him on the left flank and let him truly be a midfielder with defensive duties, but until that time happens, it should be somewhere pretty high up on the to-do list to find a way to maximize this man, because his hunger and strength is unmatched and should be allowed to be much more free than where he is now.

It’s the same argument I use against Alexis Sanchez being confined to striker. You are limiting his impact across the rest of the pitch.

Same with Kolasinac. Sticking him on the defensive line hinders him immensely and, not only that, but when he does seek to exercise his abilities and push forward, the defense is left shorthanded.

Next: Arsenal's 30 Greatest Players Ever

Kolasinac can be a difference maker, Wenger just has to let him be one.

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