Arsenal Vs Chelsea: Mustafi And Koscielny Must Handle Diego Costa
Like Didier Drogba before him, Diego Costa has bullied Arsenal’s defence. On Saturday, Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi must somehow tame the beast.
In his early years in North London, Arsene Wenger’s sides were more than technically proficient players. They were big and strong, fast and powerful. If they wanted to pass you off the park, they could. If they wanted to fight you, they could. There was almost no way to beat this Arsenal side, as every opponent in the great 2003/04 season experienced.
The aura of invincibility has long faded into memory, however. Thanks to Wenger’s shifting philosophy, preferring smaller, but more intelligent, greater technicians to the powerhouses of his previous teams, his sides have regressed into a state of submission, especially against the stronger, more athletic sides that the Premier League has to offer.
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One such team that has for so long been a thorn in Wenger’s side is Chelsea. First under the guidance and – begrudgingly I offer him this praise – genius of Jose Mourinho, the London rivals simply used to out-muscle Wenger’s teams. John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho, Michael Essien and Frank Lampard, all far too strong for a lightweight Arsenal side to contend with. None though were as potent as Didier Drogba.
The Ivorian was a blur of strength and speed, flailing arms, backing in, bumping and rolling, elbowing and barging his way to 13 goals in 14 matches. The power of the man was simply too much for the Arsenal defence to handle. Now the mantle has passed on to Diego Costa, and he is causing all the same problems once more.
In three encounters with the Gunners, Costa has scored two goals, stoked up numerous fights and got Gabriel Paulista sent off. The Spanish menace is a wind-up merchant. He is the antithesis of how Wenger perceives football should be played. Snarling, bustling and bruising, Costa bullies his way to goal.
Wenger, on the other hand, prefers the calmer, more cultured approach. His two centre-halves on Saturday, Shkodran Mustafi and Laurent Koscielny are also more inclined with their manager’s approach. Comfortable on the ball, relaxed and composed, the two are consummate on the pitch. Nonetheless, when facing the roaring Costa, can they stand up to the physical, mental and emotional onslaught?
Costa has looked back to his fighting best under Conte and Arsenal will face a tough task trying to control him on Saturday. If Mustafi and Koscielny are unable to do so, then it could be a long afternoon for what will be a shell-shocked and petrified defence.