Arsenal: Model of future must be built like Sead Kolasinac

Arsenal’s entire style may be changing, and thanks to Sead Kolasinac, it’s easy to see what direction the new style should be going.

Arsenal has had themselves an interesting year. But the most interesting part has to be how they have managed to struggle massively and then find consistency despite not once having all three of their attacking superstars on the pitch.

Alexandre Lacazette has been fantastic no matter who he has been with, but Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil have been a bit hit and miss. Not so much in their performances, but in how often they appear.

Injuries have gotten in the way and, as such, Arsene Wenger has been able to experiment a bit with his squad, and I do believe we may be onto something. Hopefully Wenger intended it, but if it was completely accidental, that’s okay too.

That “something” is this potentially new style that the Gunners look so good running – the style of effort over magic.

For so many years, Arsenal has been focused on Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez and their individual displays of brilliance and how those displays could spring team mates, who were like the magicians’ assistants of the whole show.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

But when we ran with Danny Welbeck as a regular starter, everything looked different. Rather than waiting for someone to take charge, everyone seemed to. Sead Kolasinac, Aaron Ramsey and Welbeck have all been driving forces in getting the ball forward and not dallying when they have it.

They press the issue, another thing the Gunners have struggled with in the past, particularly when the other team is parked around their goal – which often happens when Arsenal are waiting for that perfect goal.

I like to think it all started with the Bosnian. His hard work and determination, even when contained to just one side of the pitch, is as infectious as it is a change of pace. There is nothing delicate about Kolasinac, although his dribbling is underrated.

He is the poster child of this new Arsenal movement that I really hope is an actual movement. I don’t want anymore superstars running the show. I want effort guys like Kolasinac and Ramsey and sure, even Welbeck. Because if there is one thing that guys like this always have, it’s hunger. And that is the one thing that has been so tragically lacking in recent years.

Next: Arsenal's 30 Greatest Players Ever

In the future, let’s see more Kolasinac’s and less Ozil’s. I want more grit and determination and less magical flourishes. Call it personal preference if you want, I call it evolution.

Home/Arsenal News