Arsenal Vs. PSG: Laurent Koscielny And Thiago Silva Immeasurably Important
Arsenal face Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night. The two senior centre-halves, Laurent Koscielny and Thiago Silva are immeasurably important to both clubs.
Arsenal are set to open their Champions League campaign with a tough task travelling to Paris in attempt to overcome the dominant French champions. Both Paris Saint-Germain and thier visitors are renowned for attractive, free-flowing attacking football, but it is two centre-halves who are immeasurably important to the fates of their respective sides.
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Laurent Koscielny is quite possibly Arsenal’s most important player. The now 31-year-old has developed into a consummate defender, comfortable with and without the ball, good in the air, fast across the ground and a terrific reading of the game. However, PSG boast an equally established centre-back.
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While Koscielny has grown in North London, Thiago Silva plyed his trade in Italy, breaking through with AC Milan before transferring to PSG four years ago. Also 31, the Brazilian international has rightly long been renowned as one of the world’s greatest defenders, is one of the central pillars of an era of great success for the French club and will be a tough challenge for the Gunners to overcome on Tuesday.
The two defensive stalwarts are integral to the success of their respective sides, but with fitness concerns surrounding Koscielny entering the pre-match hype train of the Champions League opener, worries were prevalent among fans. However, in his press conference on Monday, Arsene Wenger dispelled such doubts:
“He [Koscielny] is alright. I was worried after the game at Southampton because he took a big knock to his face, but he is OK.”
The anticipated appearance of Koscielny, like the presence of Silva for PSG, is immeasurably important. Arsenal’s defence without the Frenchman has looked a shambles, lacking the experience and understanding that he brings. The young and unprepared pairing of Rob Holding and Calum Chambers were ripped apart by Liverpool on the opening weekend of the season and whenever Gabriel Paulista and Per Mertesacker have played together, confidence is exactly what is not instilled.
Koscielny, like Silva, is a calming influence. Not only is he a great player, but, as all the best players do, he makes others around him play well also. That is where his importance to this side is criminally underrated.
The excitement is building for Tuesday’s game and it is set to be yet another terrific European encounter between two heavyweights. While much of the attention may fall on the flashy forwards, it could well be the dependable defenders that are stars of the show.