Arsenal: Sead Kolasinac weakness will be tested

Sead Kolasinac will start at left-back for the next few weeks with Nacho Monreal unable to shake off a niggling hamstring issue. The Arsenal fullback’s defensive weaknesses will be tested.

One of Arsenal’s most problematic positions so far this season has been left-back. Ainsley Maitland-Niles started the season there. 34 minutes later he broke his fibula and has not played a minute at the position since. Nacho Monreal, the usual starter, has been dealing with injuries on and off throughout the year. And Sead Kolasinac, his normal deputy, entered the year with a knee injury with an initial eight-to-ten-weeks timeframe.

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As a result, Unai Emery has had to play Stephan Lichtsteiner, Carl Jenkinson, Granit Xhaka and even Alex Iwobi at the position at different points this season with his options severely depleted. And it seems as though those depleted options are not set to be replenished any time soon.

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Per the Standard Sport, Monreal’s niggling hamstring injury will keep him on the sidelines for another two weeks at least. It would be fair to assume that he will not be available to start until mid-December. That will see Kolasinac start at left-back in his stead, as he did in consecutive draws against Liverpool, Sporting CP and Wolves prior to the international break.

Kolasinac will now almost certainly start against Bournemouth on Sunday. He could feature midweek against Vorskla in the Europa League, although Emery may be keen to provide him with some rest, and then he will likely start against Manchester United and Spurs over the space of just three days in the Premier League. This is a crucial period for Arsenal and Kolasinac.

The latter’s defensive vulnerabilities have been a concern of mine for some time. I have written about them extensively, both this season and last season. His poor decision-making, his odd positioning, his lack of quickness, balance and agility. They all combine to make a fullback that can be exploited, as Wolves targeted two weekends ago.

Bournemouth on Sunday will pose a direct problem to Kolasinac. Quick on the counter, a threat in wide areas, they are the ideal team to exploit Kolasinac’s often glaring defensive shortcomings. And the next week against Spurs, the same threat exists, especially if Mauricio Pochetino uses Lucas Moura and Son Heung-Min in wide areas. Even Manchester United do have wide players capable of causing Kolasinac difficulty.

Kolasinac is a better attacking outlet than Monreal. His greater athleticism and surging power going forward is a great asset for any team. But a fullback must also be able to defend, being consistently wary of the counter-attack in their positioning. Kolasinac has proven that he is incapable of providing the correct balance. Monreal, on the other hand, is a consistent, dependable presence, smart and understanding of his role and responsibilities.

If Arsenal want to squeeze into the top four, they need to get points from these upcoming matches. That means Kolasinac and his weaknesses must hold up. They will be tested, for sure. But can they pass?