Arsenal: Apparently Stephan Lichtsteiner has another perk

Arsenal’s first signing of the summer, Stephan Lichtsteiner, isn’t being talked about much anymore, but there’s more good news!

Arsenal wrapped up Stephan Lichtsteiner first thing in this summer transfer window. It was so early, in fact, that very few are talking about him anymore, as it naturally goes. The talk now is who comes next.

Meanwhile, Lichtsteiner is still generating news for what he is. Apparently, among the many things that he is – a veteran, talented, useful, a leader – he is also another thing that, while it may sound nasty, for the Gunners, is a good thing.

He’s unpleasant!

That’s right, ladies and gentlemen, according to match official Jonas Eriksson, Lichtsteiner deserved special mention for just how unpleasant he is.

Eriksson went into a lengthier explanation, saying that he has met Lichtsteiner several times and has concluded that he is unpleasant based on more than just one “bad day.” He refers to the Swiss rightback as an angry person, as well.

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While I would never condone being nasty to referees, I absolute condone the general aura of nastiness that Lichtsteiner apparently has. And while we have seen his intensity and tenacity on the pitch, hearing him singled out by a referee as “unpleasant” makes me even giddier.

So much about Arsenal in the recent decade – particularly on the defensive side (moreso lately) – has been pleasant. Sead Kolasinac was the first step towards adding a degree of meanness to the club’s back line and, from the sounds of it, Lichtsteiner is another.

Never underestimate how useful it is to have a guy who makes opposing attackers feel uncomfortable or, to borrow Eriksson’s words – unpleasant. Anything that can knock somone off kilter of have them hesitate in the slightest is a benefit that can come in handy when you need it the most.

Even if Lichtsteiner is going to be playing back-up to Hector Bellerin, when he does play, likely in the side competitions, that nastiness will be needed even moreso, because he’ll probably be in the presence of a bunch of young’uns from the academy who could use their own dosage of unpleasantness so they don’t go feeling too comfortable in the starting XI.

This is not something to be worried about. It’s something to celebrate.

Next: Arsenal Complete 2017/18 Player Ratings

Now we can look forward to instances when Lichsteiner and Kolasinac are both on the pitch, because both touch lines will be unpleasant. I like that idea.

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