Arsenal: Sead Kolasinac “injustice” exactly what we asked for

Arsenal have been perhaps unfairly without the services of Sead Kolasinac, but for as unjust as it seems, isn’t this precisely what we’ve wanted?

One of Arsenal’s most monumental problems of the past few years (there have been quite a few) is the clear lack of all competition for places in the team. There is a distinct difference between the starting XI and the players “challenging” for those positions.

As in, they aren’t actually challenging at all. The only reason why Alex Iwobi or Danny Welbeck would ever start over Mesut Ozil is if there is an injury. Likewise for Mohamed Elneny. There is no competition there.

Leftback was at a similar place. Even worse, really, because given that there is only ever one leftback on the pitch, there was never any need for two quality leftbacks. Kieran Gibbs duked it out with Nacho Monreal well enough, but he never stood a chance.

And thus, we bought Sead Kolasinac. Presumably because the three-at-the-back was the new way forward. However, when you consider that Arsene Wenger always intended to switch back to the four, there may be some other questions asked.

Whatever the case, the club is now in a position where they received two quality leftbacks back from injury at the exact same time. Kolasinac, who has been benched before, seemingly for no reason, was pushed to the side for Nacho Monreal, long an Arsene Wenger favorite.

However, this time around, it was not like previous benchings, like when Wenger said that he thought Kolasinac “more-suited” for an attacking role, despite being a self-proclaimed leftback first and foremost.

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This time around, Kolasinac was benched for Monreal, who, in 30 minutes, did something that no one on the club seemed capable of doing just weeks ago – he took control of the game. One goal and two assists in 30 minutes. And then, just like that all cries of foul against Kolasinac’s benching were done away with.

The Bosnian was an afterthought, if thought of at all. The only cause for concern was when he was not brought on for an injured Monreal, but even then, the game was so well put away that what was the point of griping?

Arsenal has a growing sense of competition, and arguably nowhere fiercer than at leftback. Kolasinac was brought in to be the guy but one both sides of him, both senior and lingerin (Monreal) and young and up-and-coming (Ainsley Maitland-Niles) there is fierce competition, and both have been here far longer than Kolasinac, which to Wenger, is the best form of currency.

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It may suck that Kolasinac, who is such a strong and fierce player, is getting the short end of the stick, but ideally, this will work best for everyone involved.