Arsenal: Laurent Koscielny injury could be a good thing

With Laurent Koscielny’s injury in Madrid, Arsenal now has to rely on their youth players to carry the load. They will show everyone that they can do it.

Early in the most important game of the year, Laurent Koscielny went down with a torn Achilles, something Arsenal fans are all too familiar with. With good performances from Calum Chambers and Kostantinos Mavropanos, maybe this injury could open the door to others.

Laurent Koscielny has been an ever-present figure in the back line for Arsenal. A very tried and trusted player, someone you could look up to if you’re a younger player. Koscielny has had his injuries over the years, but his Achilles has been the worst of them.

That said, the Gunners have plenty of young, exciting and talented center-backs just itching to get a run in the first team. After some good displays from second-string defender Calum Chambers, and from new kid Kostantinos Mavropanos, maybe it’s not a bad thing that Koscielny is out for a bit.

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Arsenal has a knack for signing young players and that is what has happened in the last few years. Signing Calum Chambers from Southampton for instance, was one such move, as he has now grown to threaten regular starting XI status.

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Much more recently Arsenal have signed Rob Holding from Bolton two years ago and Kostantinos Mavropanos from PAS Giannina in January of this year. All players have made impacts on the first team, and show potential to do so much more going forward.

Laurent Koscielny joined the club in 2010 from Lorient in Ligue 1. He was very much a fringe player early in his North London career. Thomas Vermaelen and Johann Djourou were the starters. Koscielny has since surpassed their quality. The Frenchman has now made over 200 appearances for the club. Having been such a great servant to the club, is it right for me to say that it’s good that he’s injured?

Yes and no. Yes because it opens the door for other younger players to come through and challenge for that starting position. The aforementioned Chambers, Holding, and Mavropanos have all been given the chance to show what they could do. They have all proven themselves worthy candidates for the role.

Many fans want to see a world-class player to fill that role, and I would love one, but we’ll have to make do with what we have.

I say no because he will miss the World Cup and that is never good for any player. It’s one thing to miss out due to lack of skill and another to miss out due to injury.

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I want to see more from our young English defenders to make a breakthrough and challenge for World Cup places. As for Kostantinos Mavropanos, he has already impressed me and plenty of other Arsenal fans. He is a talent to watch.