Arsenal vs Watford: Why Sead Kolasinac matters so much

Arsenal are facing a fitness panic heading into Watford, as they may not have a left back, but Sead Kolasinac has to get the nod for so many key reasons.

Arsenal were already without Nacho Monreal for the upcoming Watford match, and now they may be without Sead Kolasinac as well. Many have already written the match off as inconsequential, and I’m not one to oppose that viewpoint, but there is still a value to kicking the crap out of the massive cojones that will be opposing us.

That said, there is an added value in Sead Kolasinac as well, and this is why I find it so important that he is healthy against the Hornets. He shouldn’t be risked if he is not 100%, but there is a huge weight hanging on him getting to 100%.

And no, not just because I reckon Kolasinac has more cojones than all of Watford combined (including Troy Deeney) and could take them all in a fight, should one develop.

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The reason why Kolasinac matters so much is because he needs to get back into peak form. He was a front-runner for player of the season early on. He was scoring goals, tossing in assists and owning the left side of the pitch.

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Then he got hurt, Monreal because Nacho Nacho Man and just like that, Kolasinac was defeated. I never realized how confidence-driven he was until he faced this test. Granted, maybe it’s just an Arsenal thing, as they all seem to have confidence problems.

Still, Kolasinac, in peak form, is an actual game-changer. And he changes the game from a wide angle, providing much-needed width and a certain edge that even Nacho Nacho Man cannot provide.

Since filling in for Monreal, Kolasinac has been inching towards getting back into top form, with his play improving steadily, but slowly.

Against AC Milan, he wasn’t our best performer, but he took a couple more steps towards getting back into top form. So much so that I reckoned Watford would be the final push to get him back over the line.

If he can’t play against Watford, then I’m not sure what happens from there. Monreal is supposed to be back for the second leg against AC Milan and it could well mean another spell on the bench for the Bosnian destroyer, which is something I really don’t want to see.

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There is so much to be excited for in Kolasinac, we just have to stick with him. And, ideally, we can avoid injuries in the future, because the last thing the Gunners need is another talented player that can’t stay healthy.