It comes as a surprise to many fans around the football world, including fans of the club, that Arsenal are still scaling the heights of the Premier League summit. One major reason for this is the quite magnificent partnership that has formed between Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny in the centre of defence that just continues to thrive. The duo have now gone the full 90 minutes together in an amazing 31 games (and counting) since losing 2-1 to Manchester United over two years ago. Amazing, right? So what makes this pair so special?
Towering German Per Mertesacker joined Arsenal for a fee of 8 million pounds from German side Werder Bremen in 2011. The 6’6 tall defender is quite fantastic in the air, rarely losing a challenge and as brave as a lion. His ability to read the game is peerless and even though he isn’t the quickest, the 1st yard for him is in his head; his positioning gives him a massive advantage over much faster opponents. Mertesacker is such a clean tackler as well; he only has 2 yellow cards in the Premier League this season. He is a very vocal leader who not only organizes him teammates, but demands the best out of them. A leader by example, Mertesacker already has nearly 100 caps for Germany, yet his game only continues to improve.
French International Laurent Koscielny, who, like Mertesacker, just improves game by game. Koscielny’s biggest asset is his blistering pace, which he uses to nick in front of forwards to break-up attacks and intercept through balls. Koscielny is like a silent assassin – so completely opposite to Mertesacker. He almost seems to have the speed of two men at times (convenient since Mertesacker often has the speed of none), but Koscielny definitely uses his pace to his advantage. In my opinion, he is as good a one-on-one defender I have seen in many years. Koscielny has developed into a full French National teamer with his brilliant displays for the Gunners. Even as a defender he has scored many important goals when venturing forward in dead ball situations. Koscielny is very brave in both 18-yard boxes by attacking the ball with sheer determination and by putting his head in when many would shield away or simply bottle it.
Mertesacker is big but slow. Koscielny is small but fast. Together they have virtually no weaknesses. When one falters, the other is there. When both are there, forwards may as well take an afternoon nap. As a pair they are the perfect combination of height, speed, vision, football IQ and sheer bravery. And with a late season title push still very much a possibility, 31 games together may only be the first of their accomplishments together.
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