The Gunners star centre-back Laurent Koscielny was an injury doubt going onto Tuesday’s game however, the France global has been declared fit to start according to SkySports. “When you lose your first home game you can not afford to drop points in the second home game because it creates a little bit an anxiety level at home and that’s not what you really want”.
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When he was asked why he stayed in north London, Wenger said: “Because I love where I am!” “I was concerned he wouldn’t be available, but he is alright”, he said.
He said: “I feel both are short, they lack competition and their second half was much better than their first”.
He claims that the pair were slightly overwhelmed by the pace of the Premier League on their debut on Saturday and he will consider whether it is right to play them again so soon.
“I hope we’re going to have a great game and that things will go well for us against this great team, one that will use the qualities it has: playing with their attackers, keeping possession, which they enjoy doing but also defending well”, he said on Monday. “In the second half it was much better”.
His spectacular goal meant more to Wenger not in its execution but in its timing.
Holding played in all three games before the German defender’s arrival and managed to put in some decent performances alongside Koscielny. “Then they didn’t play him anymore because they knew he could go”, the Frenchman said.
Arsenal have been knocked out at the last-16 stage of the Champions League for the last six consecutive seasons, a record that has infuriated Wenger. This side still has plenty of talent but they are now missing the leader they once had so it will be important for the likes of Angel De Maria and Thiago Silva to show some fight.
Arsenal, who have a good record on recent visits to France, have recovered from taking a single point from their opening two Premier League games, winning the next two to reach sixth place in the table.
“I think we are not 100 per cent yet”, he told Arsenal TV. “I thought if I shot down the middle the keeper might go to one side”.
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It seemed like another disaster was set to unfold, but always reliable center back Laurent Koscielny equalized with a fantastic bicycle kick. He’s with a doctor now. “The eye is already very swollen and it is closed up”.
