Deserves his own thread, after his performances since getting back into the first team. I said before the season, that he could go on to really make his mark and go on to become on the best CB's in Europe, but after Wenger made Vermaelen his captain, it became tricky for Kos. He never had a proper run in the first team and and therefore could not find any real form. The regret, is that Wenger made Vermaelen his captain in the first place, because if he didn't then the Mert-Kos combo would have played more games. CF's must hate playing against Kos, because he does not give them a second to breath. Also as I mentioned before, he does have amazing recovering pace and puts in vital blocks time and time again. It's true that we have defended as a team since the defeat to Spurs, but a big part in our recovery has been Koscielny and his performances. So, all hail the French wonder.
Top quality in my book. What he lacks in aerial presence he more than makes up for on the deck, he is quick, skillful, has a bite in the tackle and reads the game brilliantly. The fact that he had RVP in his back pocket for 90 mins on Sunday tells you what you need to know about Kos. I think making Vermaelen captain was a mistake, probably should have gone to Arteta, and then Wilshere. But at the moment our captain is out of the team for a reason, because Kos is the much better player.
Isn't there someone on this forum convinced he'll never be good because he isn't muscular enough for a CB?
He makes the odd mistake..who doesnt , i got no reason to complain about the guy. He does his job perfectly and always gives 150 per cent. Top Arsenal player .
Best defender for us this season for me. Your statement that we've defended as a team since Tottenham may be true but there has still been the occasional horror mistake, some we get away with some we don't but I don't think we can judge the defence as a unit on the strength of the goals conceded column alone. Sagna yesterday not only gifted them their equaliser but was 50 yards out of position at one point in the 2nd half and we were fortunate they didn't play a better ball and more quickly, Gibbs was equally out of position once or twice. Maybe I'm being harsh but Kos is the only player in this defence I'd happily see start every week though I can't help thinking Mert has also improved/adjusted to the English game this season...
I think we should also give a mention to Mertersacker.I was read somewhere that we've only kept clean sheets whilst he's played. I have been impressed with Koscielny but you always tend to think that there's a mistake waiting to happen
He's very much on form. Long may it continue. It's clear Mert/Kos is the best partnership currently. Does anyone have stats on win/draw/loss with each different CB pairing from this season? I wonder if they've concentrated a little more on defensive coaching of late? It appears they're defending a little better as a team.
Kos is overrated by a lot of fans. The reason I say that is he always attacks the ball and never holds back; he is a one man defence. Sometimes you need your defenders to hold back, provide cover or play as part of the team and that is where Kos is not great. The partnership with Mert is working because Mert prefers to be the covering cb so has got Kos out of trouble time and time again. There have been far too many occasions when TV and Kos were playing together that TV was attacking the ball and Kos should have been the covering CB but just charged in. TV then had to try to get back to fill the hole left by Kos and got the blame for the error when in fact it was Kos. TV is certainly the more rounded defender to Kos being gung ho, but he is good at gung ho. I would still like to see TV given a chance without being captain as I don't think that has helped him and without the extra burden I think he can get back to his best, but there is the possibility of course that his confidence has been shattered.
A lot of teams play like that now, one CB will attack, the other will sit back and cover. Hummels does it with Dortmund, Dante with Bayern, Luiz with Chelsea, Pique with Barcelona, and plenty more. It's silly to say he isn't good enough just because he's the modern day CB, especially when he is one of the best at that role.
He is in great form, with Barcelona currently hunting a centreback, I have got the sneaky feeling that they will be sniffing around him if they don't get someone like Hummels.
[video=youtube;hyx9hEgVchA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=hyx9hEgVchA[/video] A video of his performance against Man Utd.
He's good just gets overpowered a little too easily within the box. The problem for Kos is he is naturally VERY lightweight and will struggle against the bigger more athletic strikers in the league.
I've always said I feel uncomfortable judging defenders singly. You have to judge CBs as a pair or even as a back 4. Even when they make mistakes, it is often because they are under pressure and you don't know if they are simply buckling under the weight of always covering for their partner.
