Arsenal: Everything is riding on Laurent Koscielny… again

Arsenal’s defense is not something that you want to invest your life’s savings on, but Laurent Koscieln changes the equation. So hold your breath.

It’s never a good feeling when all the hopes of Arsenal are riding on one player. For many years, during the Arsene Wenger era, that was the case, where we were so grossly dependent on one man that, without him, the club looked completely different.

That isn’t the case anymore under Unai Emery. At least not as drastically, but let’s be honest, without Laurent Koscielny, everything changes. I still have faith in the attack to score goals. I still have faith in the midfield (particularly Granit Xhaka) to maintain control.

But every single opposing team is going to have their shot at attacking this Gunner’s defense and, that being the case, there has to be someone trustworthy in that theater of play to make it not a complete nightmare.

Against all odds, Laurent Koscielny has returned from his long-term injury and become that man all over again. He is the key, plain and simple. No matter who else you put on that back line with him, and in what formation, Koscielny is the glue holding the pieces together.

Which is why, in the dying embers of the Bournemouth game, I nearly opened my second floor apartment window and started screaming “why?!” to every passerby as Koscielny writhed on the ground, the commentators saying “oh no…”

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You want to talk about momentum going into a crucial North London Derby against Tottenham? Arsenal have it. They have it in all facets of play. But without Koscielny, you take an obviously crucial facet and throw it into tumult.

I have faith in Sokratis… in a back two, preferably with Koscielny by his side and without him having to cover too much ground.

I have faith in Shkodran Mustafi… to occasionally show up in a big match and defy the doubters out there.

I have faith in Laurent Koscielny.

Notice the lack of a qualifier? That’s because he is the only guy who doesn’t need one. Which is why he is the only guy that we really need on the defense if we want to maximize the hopes that this upcoming match doesn’t become an attacking free for all.

Unai Emery didn’t seem that worried in the post-match, so I’ll try not to be either. But please, please let him be fit for Wembley.