Arsenal: Sead Kolasinac maximizing the reward within the risk

Arsenal knew what they were getting when they landed Sead Kolasinac, and it’s worked out remarkably well, especially minimizing the risk.

In one of the best and most decisive acts by Arsene Wenger in the history of his tenure at Arsenal, our huge void at left wingback was filled quickly, for no cost by the best possible candidate. It sounds impossible in every sense of the word.

I have been remaking lately that Sead Kolasinac is giving us the greatest gift he possibly could – consistency. Even when he isn’t spectacular, he isn’t bad. And for an Arsenal player, that is something special. Think of Mesut Ozil or Olivier Giroud or Hector Bellerin. There are brilliant sides to them, but also awful sides. And you just never know.

Kolasinac doesn’t have an awful side like so many other Gunners do. Because even when he loses a ball, or makes a shaky tackle, it’s done for a reason. His influence is always skewing positive.

Against Swansea, I saw this a bunch. There were times where he would make a mistake and I’d get frustrated because I expect Kolasinac to be the embodiment of perfection, but it’s how he deals with his downfalls that makes him on a different level.

For instance, when he loses the ball, he either gets it back immediately or, to stop a counter attack, he delivers a casual foul to stop it and let the Gunners reform in midfield and defense. And then he keeps trying.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

There is a good deal of risk involved with someone like Kolasinac, because of how far forward he gets and because of how strong he is in his tackles. But the reward that accompanies that risk is showing through, and has shown through in each and every performance thus far into the season.

Again, let’s reference Swansea City again, because it’s fresh in our memories.

For the first 45 minutes, he was mitigating the risk, not allowing his mistakes to hurt the team. Which I guess is kind of like his version of biding time. But he kept trying new things and, finally, in the second half, he broke through.

And I don’t just mean the goal, as thunderous as it was. I’m talking about the assist, and his other creativity near the box. It’s looking more and more like the risk is minuscule compared to the reward. Perhaps the risk doesn’t even exist, dare I say it.

Next: Arsenal vs Swansea City Player Ratings

Lastly, before I end this praise piece on the Bosnian Hulk, can we talk about how little credit he gets for his deftness and quick feet and how it’s actually pinned as a detractor? Just another thing everyone else got wrong.

Home/Arsenal News