Analysis

Aymeric Laporte vs Laurent Koscielny | Manchester City vs Arsenal

By Anmol

Posted on February 3, 2019

It is best to say that a perfect defender does not exist. As a centre-back you need to possess innumerable qualities. You have to be tactically adept at the same time of being positionally aware. You have to construct long-passes as well as stop those of opponents. Many a time, you also have to have those leadership skills and be vocal in order to command. The physical strength is also as important as your composure during pressure situations.

These are few of some perfect attributes of a centre-back. None can master all but the one who can deploy as many on the field, ceases the chances of making mistakes at a position where even a penny can cost you a match. The best is to use your natural intelligence to the most of your advantage, to tackle or to win aerial duels.

To be a good centre-back, Laurent Koscielny and Aymeric Laporte have both developed their own way of performing well; anticipating the pattern of play. Both have their frailties, but what makes them an inevitable member of playing XI is their intelligent positioning. The French duo will face each other in a nail-biter of a competition that is expected to be.

Both the centre-backs are well gifted with appropriate height and robust physicality, making them defensively stronger. While Koscielny is experienced of the two but not to underestimate this young talent of France, who has learnt and adopted a lot of Koscielny’s strength.

Both of the defenders got variable traits although being essential part of their squad respectively. At Arsenal Lolo Kos is a captain, someone who guides the team from the back meanwhile Laporte is a starlet with potential with some personality porblems (to be honest)

Arsenal will travel to Manchester tomorrow – a place where they would love to put down the title forerunners in what is ti be probably ‘The Clash of the midweek’.

Arsenal as well as Manchester City possess deadly attacking venture meanwhile the defensive duties play an essential role towards developing oneself.

But if I were to predict the better of the two, let’s see who would it be?

Aymeric Laporte

Former Athletic Bilbao player is regarded as a ‘ball-playing defender. He is good known for his on-the ball skills rather than his defensive abilities. The centre-back initiates the attack by threading the ball through into the middle-half; a talent that he is extremely equipped with.

It was his line-breaking long-ball football that made Guardiola and Manchester City sign him for a record fee £57million in January 2018. Laporte also has similarities to his experienced compatriot Laurent, gifted with awareness of the game and intelligent defending.

The player knows where to position himself, when and how to track runs, how to give himself the best chance of reacting and tackling the attack. The Frenchman is supremely built with good height and physique, which does not allow opponents to push him off the ball easily.

Laurent Koscielny

Best of all, Laurent Koscielny is calm and composed even in worst scenarios. A tough nut to crack, Koscielny, although 33, has still got pace especially while on cover. Apart from his defensive skills, Koscielny also possesses a knack for set-pieces, scoring goals whenever necessary.

Emery’s most trustworthy defender, Koscielny has proved over the years that he is the best centre-back North Londoners have ever signed. The Gooners captain is as good in passes as he is in nullifying oppositions attack. Laurent has been in making interceptions and that’s why he is Emery’s number one.

The onus of saving goals will depend on Laurent as much as it will depend upon Bernd Leno. The ruthless City and their vigorous gameplay will be eyeing even a small gap if available which will have to be stopped and tackled by the well experienced Laurent Koscielny.