Arsenal's Defensive Dream: Laurent Koscielny Proves Wenger Is a Transfer Genius

Two seasons ago, as Arsenal struggled to deal with losses of key players such as Alexander Hleb and Gilberto Silva in a season that saw the Gunners finish a feeble fourth despite reaching the UEFA Champions League semi finals and FA Cup semi finals, little-known French defender Laurent Koscielny was impressing in the French second division or Ligue 2.

The Frenchman's dreams of ever playing for his country looked a mild fantasy but after a strong season with Tours FC, scouts began to notice. Now Koscielny is playing for one of the Europe's biggest and best clubs in North London giants Arsenal.

Having just contained the likes of Lionel Messi, David Villa and Pedro in an outstanding performance against arguably the best team in World Football Barcelona, Laurent Koscienly has just baked an alarmingly big humble pie.

Heads turned when the news in July that Arsene Wenger had signed the 25-year-old from Lorient FC for £8.45 million.

Few in England were aware of who Koscielny was and fans were sceptical as the Arsenal defence had declined in recent seasons and Wenger had offloaded Philippe Senderos, William Gallas, Mikael Silvestre, Sol Campbell and Kerrea Gilbert in the Summer, ensuring a frail back line.

A red card on debut against Liverpool did little to vindicate Wenger's spending and after defensive leader Thomas Vermaelen suffered an Achilles injury—that has kept the Belgium absence since—Koscielny was forced to partner with fellow new boy Sebastien Squillaci, in an inexperienced central defence.

The Gunners were not at their best in the opening few months, with shocking losses to West Bromwich Albion, Newcastle and rivals Tottenham and Sporting Braga—Arsenal's title aspirations diminished and fans and critics alike were heaping the blame on Koscienly.

The Frenchman had showed signs of impressive, efficient defending but at times looked off the pace and out of focus. Furthermore Koscielny was vastly inexperienced as well as enduring a struggling partnership with the ageing Squillaci.

But come December, defender Johan Djourou was considered at peak fitness after a severe knee injury had restrained the Swiss over the past year. Rightly so, Squillaci was dropped and Djourou and Koscielny formed a partnership.

Since then Koscielny has thrived beside the immensely powerful Djourou and confidence has slowly returned to the young Frenchman. Since January, the duo have conceded one goal in approximately 600 minutes.

Much of the praise has been shipped Djourou's way but there is no denying Koscielny's immense contribution and as Arsenal encountered Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final, many expected the Spanish giants to ease past the Gunners.

Furthermore, critics believed the likes of Lionel Messi and David Villa would dominate and torment Koscielny. But as Arsenal snatched a historic 2-1 victory in the first leg, Djourou evidently suffered from fatigue which allowed Laurent Koscienly to display an incredible defensive performance.

The Frenchman showed outstanding speed, strength and anticipation as he contained World Football's strongest attack. Suddenly all have forgotten the soon-to-be-French-international's early season stumble and all of a sudden Arsenal's defensive dramas that have haunted them for recent seasons have diminished.

But as much as the praise Koscielny deserves, one man deserves slightly more—Arsene Wenger.

Many blasted Wenger for his inability to secure services and his lack of transfer prowess but the Frenchman has once again shown money does not have to buy quality talent.

Koscielny is still very young and many have touted the French centre half as the next Tony Adams, but none of this would be occurring if not for the transfer genius of Arsene Wenger.