Graeme Souness has questioned Arsene Wenger’s decision not to risk defender Laurent Koscienly as Arsenal were beaten 4-3 by Liverpool in their opening Premier League match at the Emirates.
The France international has only returned to training this week after being given an extended break following Euro 2016, but was rested despite injuries also keeping Per Mertesacker and Gabriel Paulista out.
Youngsters Calum Chambers and new signing Rob Holding conceded four goals, from Adam Lallana, Sadio Mane and a Philippe Coutinho brace, leading Souness to conclude that Koscielny should have played.
Speaking on Sky Sports, the former Liverpool midfielder said: ‘[Koscielny] is their best defender. He’ll organise those around him and maybe one or two of those goals they wouldn’t have been conceded.
‘If there’s a position on the field where if someone is carrying a slight knock or is not quite fit, then the centre-back position is the one where you can get away with it.
‘I would have played,’ he added.
Jamie Redknapp agreed with his fellow pundit, claiming his former club West Ham would not be resting France international Dimitri Payet when they face Chelsea on Monday.
‘With Koscielny not playing today, if you had Mertesacker and Gabriel fit then I would say ‘ok, give him his break’. Once the landscape changes then you need to go to him and say ‘I need you. I need you to put in a performance for me,’ he said.
‘I thought the young lads did OK but they shouldn’t be thrown into a situation like that. I don’t get it, it doesn’t happen here. I’m sure we’ll see Payet play tomorrow for West Ham.’
Arsenal are expected to reinforce their defence with the £30million signing of Valencia’s German defender Shkodran Mustafi – with Souness claiming they need ‘two or three players’ to become serious title challengers
‘I think [spending] has been the answer since they moved to the stadium. Whenever I end up sitting in this stadium I say the same things, they’re a smidgen away from being a team that could maybe win the Premier League,’ said Souness.
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