THE CASE FOR KOSCIELNY AS DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER
by NACHIKETA
For most of the past year now, whenever I see Arsenal play, we close down the opposition quickly enough but still do not get possession back as fast as we should, as fast as Barcelona do it.
For most of the past year whenever I see Koscielny play at Centre Back I wonder how well he would do at Central defensive midfield.
Before going any further let me tell all of you that I am a big fan of Mertesacker, Vermaelen and Koscielny. So I have a tendency to be biased about seeing them play together without altering the system already in place at Arsenal.
Some people might wonder what’s wrong with a Juventus style back three and for them all I can say is changing to a new defensive line up in the middle of the season is not exactly easy and doesn’t promise instant results. What I propose is that we tweak our system to have a high pressing CDM in front of the centre backs.
So what does Koscielny give to the side? What are his strengths? And how can we realise his potential to the fullest?
Koscielny is by far the quickest centre back we have at Arsenal, equally adept at using both his feet and an excellent reader of the game. If it wasn’t for all of us knowing beforehand that he is a defender we might have viewed a person with the above qualities as a Defensive midfielder.
If we look at his game further he has a propensity to make long runs with the ball which often leaves us gaping at the back. If he plays in midfield even if he leaves his post once or twice a game it should not be as fatal as a cb leaving his position.
Also he is an average header but is excellent at reading the game and often does his damage before the attacker is able to control the ball. His superior speed and greater technique resulted in the likes of messi struggling at the Emirates. He does make some rash tackles that can result in penalties and hopefully we can admonish them to being outside the box when he plays at Defensive midfielder.
Also he isn’t exactly a powerhouse but so isn’t Xabi Alonso or Sergio Busquets. He has the sort of close control needed to make it big in midfield and that dash of aggression missing from our defensive set up ( Vermaelen ever since being promoted to Club Captain has been subdued).
I cannot stress enough that the key to being a great defensive midfielder is being a good reader of the game, great stamina and the ability to make well timed challenges.
Koscielny has all that and more. Also playing him at CDM can free up both our full backs and they can bomb forward at each opportunity. If we are keen on playing Gibbs and Jenkinson together this can be our way of ensuring defensive stability. Given that Diaby is injured most of the time, Sagna’s form has dipped remarkably and we did not buy a defensive midfielder in the recently concluded transfer window, this is well worth a shot.. What say Gooners?????
P.S. Nacho Monreal is a good buy. Not just because he shares my nickname but because I think he his dependable, dedicated and in the prime of his life.
- Match Review: Mike Dean – Arsenal Vs Manchester City (0 – 2) [13/01/2013]
- Arsenal v Stoke: crazy assistant, bad tackles, flying punches
- Arsenal v Rugby – a match preview
- Arsenal – Stoke: What can we expect from the ref?
- The moment that power changed hands from the owner to the manager at Arsenal
——————————–
The books…
- Woolwich Arsenal: The club that changed football – Arsenal’s early years
- Making the Arsenal – how the modern Arsenal was born in 1910
- The Crowd at Woolwich Arsenal FC: crowd behaviour at the early matches
The sites…
- Referee Decisions - just what are the refs up to this season?
- Parent News - what is going on in schools these days?
- The weight loss programme: The only guaranteed way to stay fit
NACHIKETA
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2273239/Champions-League-match-England-rigged-Asian-crime-gang-Europol-launches-biggest-match-fixing-investigation-380-games.html#axzz2JijkuFRZ
Conspiracy theory? i think not fat boys
I agree with Nachiketa’s suggestion of shifting Koschienlny to a defesive midfielder’s position. With proper training and guidance he can adapt well. The back 4 may be reinforced and other guys will have a chance of “penetrating” the opposition. One question – who will assist Arsenal in the event of an injury ? He has just deputised Vermaelen. If we did not have him, we would have been in trouble.
He is worth trying and a cheap option – This will save Arsenal from going into the tranfer market.
What position did he play in the Asian tour? I think it is a very good idea. However, does he have the engine to run up and down the pitch for 90 min? I have always wondered when Wenger would experiment with that. He may be better at protecting the back four but when all things are taken into consideration is he better than Arteta, Diaby or Coquelin in that role? I do not have the answers but I would love to see that experiment some day soon.
A good experiment I would say. But I have reservations about his pass completion from such a position as well as his ability to distribute the ball effectively.
We have only 3 good centre backs. So pushing up JK is a bad idea unless we buy another CB or even 2 in summer. Is there better idea than to buy a superior DM like E. Capoue?
BTW I think that Vermaelen is more suited to DM role. His positionng is weaker than Per’s and Laurent’s.
I’ve always had the opinion that a CDM in a 4-3-3 should always be able to play a CB role. So when the wing backs bomb forward, we have 3 players physically capable of stopping a strong CF from countering us. Far too easily have we seen Arteta or Ramsey pushed aside / shrugged off / be outmuscled in a tackle as someone surges through the middle on the counter.
Good idea!
Nachiketa his article was mentioned on arsenal.com by the way. If you see Koscielny playing DM you know where Wenger got the idea
Surely that is worth experimenting.
I have always wondered how Gibbs would perform as a winger or as CDM. He has the technique to go past opponents and his passing and crossing are good. With Arteta, Rosicky and Arshavin aging, Gibbs, IMHO, would be a better Winger or CDM than he is a defender. With Nacho, at least from his first game, adapting to the position well, Wenger can do this experiment when Gibbs comes back in a fortnight or so without any risks.
Koschienlny makes me nervous as a centre back; I don’t think he is a natural defender. On the other hand, he is fast and he does like to take on players – often at the cost of playing himself out of postion in his present role. I think he could make a great contribution playing in front of the back four, like Pepe has been used at Madrid.
Alfa,
Wenger should experiment it and I think he can perfoem the role of DM very wel.That will help us most expecially during big games.