Laurent Koscielny the Catalyst Behind Arsenal's Top-Four Recovery

Sam Tighe — Sun, 19 May 2013 17:33:36 -0400

At one stage this season, Arsenal looked dead and buried.

Tottenham were comfortably ahead in the race for UEFA Champions League football, the Gunners had dipped as low as eighth in the English Premier League table and many had already concluded that the race for the top four was done.

But one man formed the basis of Arsenal's resurgence, and that man was Laurent Koscielny.

The Frenchman finished the 2011-12 season very strongly and looked a certainty to man the centre of Arsene Wenger's defence come the start of 2012-13.

Injury prevented him from taking his spot, though, and so commenced a merry-go-round of central defensive trials as Wenger attempted to find his strongest pair.

Thomas Vermaelen, the captain of the club, was a mainstay be it centrally or on the left. That left a dogfight between Koscielny and colleague Per Mertesacker to take the other spot.

Some Gooners suggested a switch to a three-man defensive line was necessary to incorporate them all—it's an ideal way of masking Mertesacker's lack of pace and frees up the full-backs into wing-back roles.

This indecision and uncertainty harmed the side's form for more than four months. It's arguable that the only position that doesn't prosper from squad rotation is centre-half.

But Wenger stuck to his usual 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 hybrid and kept the faith in his players. Questions were asked, but eventually form picked up—Koscielny displaced Vermaelen in the starting XI and formed a consistent, formidable partnership with Mertesacker.

Of the final 10 games Arsenal played, eight were won, two were drawn and none were lost.

That's title-winning form, and the minimal five goals conceded during that time was the perfect reaction after losing 2-1 to Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

Over that stretch, Koscielny was the Gunners' most influential player.

His contribution in the final two games underline his style, commitment and clutch ability to come up big when needed.

Against Wigan Athletic, when tensions were running high at 1-1, the Frenchman made an acrobatic hooked clearance to stop the Latics taking the lead. His side, growing in confidence, went on to win 4-1.

That left them one victory away from assuring Champions League qualification, and that victory came courtesy of Koscielny's solitary strike in a 1-0 victory at St. James' Park.

Mertesacker and Kieran Gibbs had been caught out of position early on only for Laurent to bail them out with some superb defensive covering. After Mikel Arteta came off injured, the Frenchman took on leadership responsibilities without the armband: vocal, commanding, dominant.

Koscielny is fully appreciated by Arsenal fans and is now the unquestioned No. 1 central defender at the club.

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Premier League Final Day: See Gareth Bale, Laurent Koscielny Goals in Top-4 Race

Karl Matchett — Sun, 19 May 2013 13:55:43 -0400

The Premier League 2012-13 season came to a close on Sunday, and with relegation and the title already sewn up, the big drama came in the race for the top four positions, with North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal fighting it out for the last spot.

Chelsea had already all-but-confirmed their own place, and a 2-1 final day win over Everton sealed third place, so it was down to the Gunners to pick up the win they needed to fend off the challenge from Spurs, who would instead take fourth if they won and Arsenal failed to.

Two tight matches were goalless at the break and into the second half, before the Gunners grabbed the all-important opening goal on 52 minutes with centre-back Laurent Koscielny hooking in from close range after a free kick was headed on in his direction.

Spurs fans shortly afterward apparently thought Newcastle had found an equaliser (via BBC)—but it was misinformation if they did:

False alarm! A false alarm at White Hart Lane. I love it when this happens on the last day of the season. Spurs fans erupt as 'news' comes through to them but I can assure you that Newcastle have not scored. They soon pipe down again.

Arsenal held firm, and as the matches moved toward the closing stages, Spurs were still lacking the goal they needed themselves to have even a chance of reaching fourth spot.

Enter Gareth Bale.

Another wonderful effort from the Tottenham man found the back of the net from range, giving Spurs fans hope in the 89th minute that their team could achieve the hugely unlikely.

They'd done what they needed against Sunderland, but there was no late comeback from Newcastle as Arsenal held onto their own 1-0 victory, to seal fourth spot at the end of the season and a place in the Champions League qualifying round for 2013-14 season. Arsenal end the season on 73 points, one ahead of Spurs, having taken an impressive eight wins from their final 10 games of the season.

Spurs, once more, have to settle for fifth place, the Europa League and the continuation of St Totteringham's Day.

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Laurent Koscielny the Catalyst Behind Arsenal's Top-Four Recovery

Premier League Final Day: See Gareth Bale, Laurent Koscielny Goals in Top-4 Race