Rennes vs Arsenal: 5 key players to avoid the nervous twitches

3. Sead Kolasinac

I’m not sure that Sead Kolasinac ever really needs a break, since he isn’t technically human (he is 75% machine, according to the latest genetic report), but now that he has had a break against Tottenham (a break that he shouldn’t have had, but I digress…), he is going to be fully charged and ready to wreck some Ligue 1 defense.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• Mikel Arteta provides Gabriel Martinelli injury update after Everton win

As I mentioned when I was writing about Iwobi, combining these two makes the left-hand flank an absolute game changer, with the attack primarily flowing down their side, both from the overlap and just the sheer power behind the two of them.

Kolasinac is going to be turning all kinds of corners against Rennes, sending those delectable balls into the box, whether cut-backs, crosses or shots, and he is going to be a absolutely crucial to the final scoreline of the match. I would expect a man of the match caliber performance out of him, if I’m being totally honest, but maybe I shouldn’t get too far ahead of myself.

Whatever the case, we’ve seen how good Kolasinac is, we’ve seen the impact he makes in the attack and, when given the freedom to attack as he figures to get in France, I can’t imagine him needing to think too much about anything else. But maybe I’m just being overly optimistic.

We move on to No. 2.