Laurent Koscielny says Arsenal need to approach the rest of the season game by game if they’re to end a nine-year trophy drought but insists if his teammates maintain a hatred for defeat they can achieve big things.
Speaking to UEFA.com, the French centre-back, who already has 20 starts under his belt this season, touched on the momentum which has propelled the Gunners to the top of the table both domestically and in Europe.
“We are on the right track and it’s always nice to get a head start in the Premier League. The league season is very long and so is the Champions League, so we need to remain focused and keep doing the same things.
“We must continue showing good movement, playing our passing football and defending as a unit. Every player on the pitch is important whether they’re up front or at the back.
“We need to take it game by game, we have some important matches coming up and we’ll need to continue hating losing games and winning the way we are at the moment.”
On the club’s improved defensive record, Koscielny spoke of an increased flexibility in tactics and also reserved praise for the work put in by the midfield.
“This season it’s working quite well, even though we haven’t had many clean sheets.
“We feel the team is stronger defensively. When we have difficulty setting up our pressing we play a bit deeper and we are then stronger. Our midfield supports us a lot defensively whether it’s Mathieu Flamini or Mikel Arteta.
“It’s important that the whole team are in place and that everyone makes the necessary effort in defence. We have a lot of attacking players who can make a difference but who are also able to do their defensive work in order to help us at the back. They’re winning the ball as fast and as high up the pitch as possible.”
“I don’t think much has changed this season, but we understand each other more and there is a good atmosphere off the pitch,” the French international added.
“We need to give everything and work as a team. We are all pulling in the same direction and I hope it continues like this because we have some really good players. It is up to us to maintain this winning mentality.”
He’s my favorite player and its easy to underscore his ability in the Mertscielny duo. Both the defenders are unique in their profile, and that makes them harder to replace too. While Mertesacker is aerially dominant and has great positional sense, Kos has great speed and uses it to effect, preventing forwards from getting comfortable on the ball by hounding them and getting in flying tackles. That said, he is good in the air too, just not good enough to counter big blokes like Drogba or his physical clone. Vermaelen is more in the all-action mould of defenders.
Merder is tall. That’s why he has a good vision.
* where’s my coat? *
Hatred of defeat combined with players realising their potential & things just generally clicking.
i love this hate! long may it continue!
I love it when he says we haven’t got enough clean sheets. Though kind of impossible but ultimate perfection would be to go a whole season without conceding any goals. 🙂
If we get any more clean sheets and I’ll dirty mine…
I’ll get my coat…
brilliant, that’s the attitude. we need the boys to hate losing – the feeling over some of the last few seasons has been that the occassional loss isn’t a big deal.
let’s smash the Humber Tigertrons or whatever they’re called this week
Considering where he came from, Koscielny could be one of Wenger’s best ever buys.
He’s developed into one of the most accomplished defenders in the world, and it is hard to find anyone who is so good at not only getting in front of a striker to nick the ball, but then being able to play forward so accurately and quickly.
Long may it continue!
True! But I will also argue he is one of the best defenders (if not the best in the league) in one v one situations. Love him to bits!!
Well said mate, 1 vs 1, Kos is almost unbeatable.
I find it amazing, i always look forward to his battles with strikers
In a strange sort of way he reminds me of Wrighty — someone who has got a chance to play at the top level later than most players and has grabbed it with both hands.
Its the idea that he has already seen how things could have turned out, and it gives the motivation to excel
The fans hate to lose too. So I guess the fans and players are on the same page on that. That should work some magic.
COYG!!!
Piqué & Vidic vidic! on Fifpro shortlist ahead of Mertescielny. this is a crime tbh. but what can else can you expect from fifa….
He weighs 11 stone
I used to weight 11 stone…..
Pardon the sheenism, but I’d love the taste of some tiger blood tonight. COYG!!
Let’s hope our strikers poach a few, then.
Well said koscielny.That’s the attitude of a team that dreams to become a champion.I belief that come May 2014 we gonna celebrate
Yeah! we need to maintain the momentum as we are still seen as pretenders to the EPL. I wish they keep on doubting us while we keep on proving to them that we are better than they think we are.
Hatred of failure is just as important as a love of success. Real winners have both in equal measure! #COYG
Very well said. That could be engraved on a plaque and nailed to the wall above a locker room door.
kosc the boss
Looking at the progress Koscielny has made, I now truly believe in this adage: ARSENE KNOWS. Arsene can spot a gem amidst a heap of rubble and polish it to perfection
We will smash hull tonight. Confident is an understatement….
Pictured: Koscielny playing for Brazil
I’ve been trying for a while now to think of a central defender in Europe quicker than Kos. So far can’t find any! His speed at closing down attackers is second to none and placed next to the BFG is a perfect balance. I rate him on the top five best CB in the world right now. Am I being bias because he’s one of us? Maybe, maybe not.
But that fucking walk after he makes a sliding tackle like a boss. I’d invade the pitch naked if I had the chance to
Hard to find a better CB than Kos in the EPL. I mean here’s a guy who almost never get beaten in a one on one situation. Even Vidic in his prime ain’t as good.
Honestly, that principle works everywhere. You hate to lose, u win regularly. U loathe/hate losing with passion, u almost never lose. #COYG
Fondest memory so far of Kos this season. The way he owned Suarez and made him his bitch.
Check the CB nominated for fifproxi none can do the job better like koscielny he’s now the best in this profession cheers and show the magic tonight again I just can’t stop looking at the clock hahahaha up gunners!
i will never forget how he dropped the Ukrainian guy kung fu open palm smack to the jaw. He dropped like a stone, its the first time i’ve ever seen that on a football field. no wonder the footage has been suppressed
I’m glad they told Barca to fuck off when they tried to buy him
After Szczesny declared how upset he gets when they lose a clean sheet even if they win, I always find the last minutes of a game we’re up 2-0 or 3-0 absolutely thrilling and hilarious. The defense will give up a chance and Szczesny just goes mental. He plays with so much intensity when he can smell a clean sheet.
I really hate it when I hear Tv commentators saying…”he passed Mertersacker too easily….(or) as if he is not there (etc)”
What the hack do they mean by that??!!
Then if that’s really the case, then we should conceding tonnes of goals & szcznesny would have gone totally mental by now!!
Is Wenger gonna start wearing a dark cloak now and have an evil theme song play whenever he walks into view?
Koscielny showing everybody why the Barca/Bayern interest wasn’t just fluff. This guy is the real deal in central defense. Possibly growing to be my favorite player on the squad. His recovery speed is so crucial with the Mertersacker mental strength game going on the other side. Perfect marriage of brains and ability. This is the anchor that will park us atop the prem come May.