Summer signing Sead Kolašinac has spoken about how he’s looking forward to Sunday’s match against Liverpool and former Schalke teammate Joel Matip.
Sead has made a strong start to life with Arsenal, even if the team hasn’t always performed to the same standards. Talking to the Standard about the Gunners’ next game against Liverpool, Sead first spoke about what he knows about Liverpool and their stadium.
The Bosnian explained: “One Anfield game really stands out for me and that is one I watched on TV when I was at Schalke. It was when they played Dortmund in the Europa League quarter-final and they won 4-3. You could almost hear the noise in Germany when the winning goal went in.”
Sead then went on to talk about what he’s heard from former teammate Joel Matip, who he is still close with after spending five years together at Schalke, from 2011 until 2016 when Matip left for Liverpool on a free transfer.
Kolašinac, fresh from his own free transfer to Arsenal, was keen to emphasise that he wanted to make his own memories on Merseyside too, saying: “I have heard some positive things because I know Joel Matip well and he has told me a lot. I am looking forward to playing there on Sunday and making my own impression.”
[bctt tweet=”I am looking forward to playing there (at Liverpool) on Sunday and making my own impression – Kolasinac” username=””]
So far Sead has been forced to fill in at centre-back, due to injuries, suspensions and transfers. However, as Shkodran Mustafi has been brought back into the team, Per Mertesacker should be fit again, Rob Holding wasn’t selected for the u23s and Laurent Koscielny has completed his suspension, Kolašinac might finally be able to play his first match at wing-back.
The return of Arsenal’s vice-captain Koscielny was particularly comforting for the 24-year-old, who was quick to praise the defender: “It is very important to have him [Koscielny] back. He is one of the captains of this team and definitely makes a difference at the back. He is someone who is tough to play against for all strikers.
“He is very good in the duels. He helps us in defence as a whole and actually he helps the entire team as well so we are very happy to have him back. I hope he can help the team as soon as possible and I am convinced he will do that on Sunday.”
Hopefully the improvement in Arsenal’s defensive situation will be evident on the day, it will need to be if the Gunners hope to pick up three points.