Sead Kolasinac adds missing muscle to Arsenal’s array of skill-gnomes | Barney Ronay


The Bosnian represents an echo of the powerful, hard-running players who characterised Arsène Wenger’s best title-winning teams

One thing you often lose watching a football match on television is the sound levels. Not just the noise of the crowd but the noise of the players, a scale of collision and opposing force that means certain incidents, and indeed the careers of certain players, can have an entirely different register in the flesh.

David Luiz’s red card against Arsenal on Sunday was one such case. Replays and stills will show a raised foot but really this was a red card you had to hear. So profound was the thunk of contact those nearby knew instantly the challenge went beyond necessary force and into the realms of dangerous excess.

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