Laurent Koscielny will be available for selection for this Sunday’s Community Shield against Chelsea.
The French international was sent off in our final league game of last season, and was issued a mandatory three match ban.
He served the first game of that suspension the following week, missing out on the 2-1 win over Chelsea in the FA Cup final.
However, as this Sunday’s game against Chelsea is deemed a friendly and not a competitive fixture, Koscielny is eligible.
It means his suspension runs for the first two Premier League games of the season, meaning he misses the opener against Leicester City, and the away trip to Stoke on August 19th.
Great news, we need him to help welcome Morata to England. Rob Holding and The BFG can play good cop/bad cop, while koscienly can just smash into him!
Bizarre comment. Missing a league game is far worse than missing this non entity of a game.
Clearly missing a league game is worse, BUT if he has to miss the next 2 games after this one, he might as well play and get some match fitness under the belt and help the team a bit.
But if he wasn’t available Sunday then he wouldn’t be missing two games obviously. People on here just have to argue everything, even if it involves throwing logic completely out the window.
Shit. I was hoping he’d be available for the orcs.
With no arnautovic I think they will be less of a threat on the counter. So BFG or El neny? Should do fine. I was impressed with El nenys passing against Sevilla
Unavailable for first two games .. *shudder*
Would have preferred him missing the shield and playing stoke to this.
It’s fine. We’ve got PER!
Fuck
Does that mean he can get his usual red card, and not be penalized for it too then?
I bet he gets injured. not pessimism just a feeling
I think the commentators tend to be myopic always. They forget we also have Mustafi shortly to return after community shield. I feel our strongest line up at the back may be Koscielny in the middle, Mutafi right and either of Monreal or Kolasinac left side. If you need a bit more aerial security against certain teams, Per is an option too. Chambers put in a very good performance against Benfica ( I thought better than Holding) I’m not sure why some assume he is on his way out. If anything it is an option maybe for Wenger to hold… Read more »
I thought your first couple of points–about our depth in central defense–were both germane and interesting. Could you not have stopped there?
He is auditioning for his own blog
So the Charity Shield (or whatever its called now) is officially not a competitive game and therefore not major trophy? Has someone told Jose and those Utd fans in Kent this yet?
I think, sir, you mean the English Supercup.
WE’VE GOT A BIG FUCKIN GERMAN
Fuck. Was really hoping he’d miss the community shield game.
I think that we should play our intended back 3 for the Leicester game on Sunday. Give them a competitive match to gel together before the real action starts. Sorry Laurent , but you should not be on the bench for Sunday even if you are available
I wonder if we even play the Boss in this game? Better to let his niggling injuries have a further rest from match action imo.
…and whoever takes his place for the first two games needs the minutes.
Well put
While I rather lose Koscielny for Community Shield and a PL match than for two PL games…him playing against Chelsea gives Mustafi, Holding, and Chambers an extra week for fitness before the PL begins.
I assume our back three versus Chelsea will be Nacho+Per+Koscielny.
How is the community shield not an official game?!! Utter crap
How many subs are allowed? That’s a tell.
And we wondered why he has been playing Elneny back there recently.
Where have you found the information that the Community Shield is deemed as a friendly? Link please please!