Arsenal vs Everton: 5 key players to take crucial road points

2. Laurent Koscielny

Arsenal has not kept a clean sheet away from home in the Premier League this season. A lot of it has been about damage limitation – surrendering goals, but not surrendering too many goals, and instead hoping that the attack can do their end of the bargain.

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But having a defense that’s all about damage limitation can be an exasperating thing. It is, however, a thing of the past. Because nowadays, there is actually confidence brewing that this defense can be a force, and can do more than just stop things from getting too bad. And that all changed when Laurent Koscielny came back to the team from his lengthy injury lay off.

Koscielny was out against Newcastle due to a minor injury, but the club still managed to hold a clean sheet in his absence. Going on the road is so often a different story, but if you stick Koscielny next to Sokratis, then this defense has all the necessary tools to make a difference in a big way, and that isn’t just limited to trying to keep the game from getting out of hand.

Of course, a lot will be determined by the wide defenders as well, fullbacks or wingbacks, but the difference that Koscielny makes is always palpable, and it’s a difference that we need to feel against Everton, because I don’t trust anyone else in the centerback role like I do Koscielny.

Finally, No. 1.