Laurent Koscielny Return Could Relieve Pressure on Arsene Wenger

If Arsenal’s training ground is as carefully constructed as we hear, one assumes the physio room is equipped with a revolving door: No sooner does one player leave than another arrives. The latest entrant to the treatment facility is Jack Wilshere. After going off against Manchester United, he has been ruled out indefinitely with an ankle problem.

On a normal day, that bad news would dominate headlines; however, in this instance, it is balanced by positive tidings: while Wilshere may be out, Laurent Koscielny is available again. 

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There can be little doubt about which player is more important to Arsenal at present. Koscielny’s absence has been a huge factor in the defensive instability that has sabotaged Arsenal’s season. With him back, there is cause for a measure of optimism.

Speaking to John Cross of the Daily Mirror, Arsene Wenger said: "Koscielny is in the squad for tomorrow. It’s very good news because he was out for a while now and we are short in numbers defensively. It’s good to have his quality back."

Koscielny’s pairing with Per Mertesacker was, after all, the foundation upon which Arsenal launched their title challenge of 2013/14. The Gunners kept 17 clean sheets last season, and these two were a huge part of it. Each player seems to atone for the other's weaknesses, formulating a perfect partnership.

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In recent weeks, Arsenal have been forced to play Nacho Monreal, a left-back, in an unfamiliar role alongside Mertesacker. The results have been as unsatisfactory as you’d expect. If Koscielny is deemed fit enough to be in the squad, he’s sure to start.  

Arsenal’s lack of defensive options is undoubtedly Wenger’s fault; however, the return of Koscielny could relieve some of the pressure on Arsenal’s beleaguered manager.

The Arsenal manager has come under fire from every angle this week. There’s no suggestion his position is immediately under threat: He recently signed a three-year deal and retains the support of his board.

However, that intransigence seems to frustrate disaffected Arsenal fans all the more. Their anger is enhanced by what they regard as the futility of their protests.

Wenger has ridden spells like this before, and he remains confident he is the man to take Arsenal forward. Speaking to Cross, he said: "First of all, the 18 years I have been here I have shown that I can take criticism. Everybody has the right to have an opinion. Having said that, we have values at this club. ... When we go through a difficult patch, we show solidarity. That is a very important one."

His stoicism is admirable; however, even he must recognise that, in their current form, Arsenal are approaching a crisis point.

After two consecutive defeats, this is a game that Arsenal cannot afford to lose. Wenger will hope that Koscielny’s timely return enables them to keep Borussia Dortmund at bay.

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and is following the club from a London base throughout the 2014-15 season. Follow him on Twitter here.