Arsenal Vs Liverpool: Laurent Koscielny can turn nightmare into dream

Arsene Wenger stated that Laurent Koscielny has endured a nightmare start to the season because of the suspension he suffered against Everton last year. The French defender will return against Liverpool, with the chance to turn Arsenal’s equally nightmarish defending into a dream.

Laurent Koscielny rarely mistimes a tackle. Such is his speed, his reading of the game and his timing in his tackling, it is usually the case that he is able to successfully commit himself to winning the ball. Unfortunately for him, he mistimed one crucial tackle to end last season, clipping Enner Valencia as the Everton winger looked to race by him. He was brandished, justifiably, a red card and subsequently missed the opening two games of Arsenal’s Premier League campaign due to suspension.

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As Arsene Wenger states, it has been a difficult time for the Frenchman:

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"“It’s been very hard because I didn’t even consider him for friendly games as I had to play some defenders [who were available in the Premier League]. I think what hurt him a lot was to miss the cup final. He had a reaction in the final game of the season against Everton that was unlucky. He’s a very quiet guy and sometimes he can get rushed. He thinks always he has the speed and the pace to win the tackle, in this case he didn’t. We lost the game on Saturday [at Stoke] because defensively we gave a cheap goal away, and it’s good to have him back.”"

However, Koscielny is set to return to the team on Sunday as the Gunners travel to Anfield to take on a vibrant and dangerous Liverpool side. Very much like Koscielny’s start to the season, their defending has been equally nightmarish, conceding three against Leicester City and another against Stoke City, many of which could, and should, have been prevented. But now with Koscielny back in the fray, perhaps the tables can be turned.

Since the start of the 2014/15 season, with Koscielny featuring, Arsenal have kept a clean sheet in 39% of games. Without, just 35%. Equally, with Koscielny, they have conceded 0.97 goals per game. Without, that figure rises to 1.3.

Those numbers are significant and the difference between the two is substantial. Koscielny is the anchor of the defence. His influence seeps into the play of those around him, calming his teammates, providing them with the security blanket that they need in the sweeper role that excels at.

Arsenal have been exploited in defensive areas so far this season, most prominently as Jese drifted past Nacho Monreal, who was playing Koscielny’s position at the heart of the three centre-halves, before sliding a shot past Petr Cech to secure the win for Stoke, and against an attack as potent and pacy as Liverpool’s, Koscielny’s return is absolutely vital.

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A win against Liverpool would extremely significant for Arsenal. They are in need of a statement after the loss to Stoke. With Koscielny anchoring their defence, they now have a far better opportunity than without. Perhaps he can begin to turn his and the defence’s nightmare into a dream.