Arsenal: Midfield the answer to Sead Kolasinac compromise

Sead Kolasinac has a problem: he may be a brilliant, offensive weapon but he is a defensive liability. The compromise that Arsenal must make when they select him, though, can be solved, and it comes in the midfield.

Throughout Arsenal’s up-and-down form during the festive period, one thing has become increasingly clear: Sead Kolasinac is a genuine offensive weapon. The Bosnian, playing at left-back and left wing-back, has been a bulldozing force, bombarding his way up and down the flank with terrifying power and surprising precision in the final third.

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Kolasinac has two assists in his last four matches and created a massive four chances in the New Year’s Day win over Fulham. No other player created as many. His pace, power and excellent, low deliveries make him a unique threat from out wide. But this attacking threat all comes with a cost.

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Kolasinac is a brilliant weapon at one end, but at the other, he is an absolute liability. It was on full display against Fulham. While he was being the best, attacking player on the pitch in the final third, he was also the primary source of Arsenal’s vulnerability with his utterly bemusing positioning, poor decision-making and questionable reading of the game and sense of danger.

There is a compromise that is to be made here. The issue is that Kolasinac is too impactful to not play. His production is undeniable, and it dictates his place in the team. But is it worth the defensive deficiencies that he consistently creates? Either Kolasinac must improve defensively, Unai Emery must take the rough with the smooth, or investment in a replacement must come.

However, perhaps there is another way. Manchester City have Benjamin Mendy and Kyle Walker. Liverpool have Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold. Chelsea have Marcos Alonso and Cesar Azpilicueta. These players are not defensively perfect. Walker has made some glaring errors recently. Antonio Conte was unwilling to play Alonso at full-back. Robertson and Alexander-Arnold were exposed by a 21 and 22-year-old against Arsenal just last week.

The difference between all of these players and Kolasinac, though, is the greater control that their teams exude in the midfield. City dominate matches through their relentless domination of possession. Liverpool have extremely mobile central midfielders to fill in the gaps. Chelsea dictate play in a similar manner to City, as well as also having N’Golo Kante, a player that can fill in when the full-backs push forwards with great adeptness.

Arsenal, on the other hand, do not have any of these things. Their centre-backs are liabilities, their midfield cannot handle the high press and lose possession far too cheaply, they do not possess the mobile, high-energy, hard-workers to run the hard yards. That is why Kolasinac is exposed as painfully as he is.

Does that excuse his defensive shortcomings? No. Does that mean that Arsenal should not look to improve upon him, if the chance arises? No. But it does mean that there is a solution to the Kolasinac problem, and it comes in the midfield.