Koscielny confident of shackling deadly Drogba

OF all the occasions on which Arsenal’s fallibility has resulted in the elongation of a trophy drought that extends into its sixth season, no individual has left them more savagely exposed than Didier Drogba.

The Gunners have so often proved graceful beyond comparison with effervescent football of the highest calibre only to find themselves bludgeoned into submission by the awesome power of one man.

Arsenal have beaten Chelsea only twice in their previous 17 meetings, in the last 10 of which, Drogba has scored a dozen times.

Football is often over simplified but the Gunners’ inability to contain the 32-year-old has so regularly proved the difference in these clashes, which have such a defining influence on the season for each club.

Arsene Wenger’s side have shown more resilience this year, with a hard-fought victory at Blackburn but defensive concerns remain after last weekend’s shock home defeat to West Brom.

There has been much upheaval in the rearguard ranks over the summer with Mikael Silvestre, Sol Campbell and William Gallas all departing to be replaced by two individuals who have made encouraging starts in England.

While Sebastien Squillaci is proving an able deputy in Thomas Vermaelen’s absence, it is Laurent Koscielny who has caught the eye, adapting well to the rigours of Premier League life after his £7 million (€8m) switch from Lorient. In fact, the Frenchman is already so important to Arsenal that Wenger rested him for Tuesday’s Champions League victory at Partizan Belgrade in the knowledge that bigger tests await.

And tomorrow the 25-year-old will become the latest Arsenal defender attempting to shackle Drogba, who has scored five goals in six games this season, all of them at Stamford Bridge.

Koscielny is unflustered by the challenge.

“When I arrived I knew there were plenty of French players to help me adapt to this new life, with a new culture, a new language and new football,” he said. “Those players helped me to get integrated in the squad. The English players were very welcoming and friendly with me. They showed a lot of respect and it all went fine.

“We have a very good team with very good players. There have been a lot of departures in the defence but we have four quality central defenders and we have enough quality players covering the field to win a trophy.

“We don’t feel any pressure in defence. Our job is not to concede any goals, be the backbone of the team, and I like playing with a team that plays the ball. I am a very focused defender in every match and every situation.

“I have a good head game, good anticipation, I am quite fast with deep balls. I keep training to perfect those skills.”

Wenger knows better than most the threat Drogba poses but is “convinced” Koscielny and Squillaci will be able to shackle him.

“He has talent,” said Wenger, who had scouted Drogba when the forward was at French club Guingamp, “He is a complete striker, which is why he has scored goals against many teams.

“We have to stop him, to be efficient against him and I am convinced we will do that on Sunday.”

The Arsenal boss maintains his side have the quality to beat Carlo Ancelotti’s side at Stamford Bridge tomorrow – even without injured captain Cesc Fabregas and a host of first-team regulars.

The 23-year-old is still recovering from a hamstring problem, and has been joined on the sidelines by goalkeeper Manuel Almunia as well as England U21 full-back Kieran Gibbs, who has a calf problem.

With the likes of Belgium centre-half Thomas Vermaelen failing to shake off an achilles problem suffered during the last international break and England forward Theo Walcott and Dutch striker Robin van Persie both out with ankle injuries, a trip to Chelsea is hardly what Wenger would have wanted at this time.

However, boosted by the midweek Champions League victory at Partizan Belgrade in Serbia, the Gunners boss insists last week’s shock home defeat by West Brom is now out of their system as he prepares to inflict a second successive league reverse on Chelsea.

“I believe we have enough strength to win the game and that is what we want to do,” Wenger declared.

“If we turn up with a great performance – and I am convinced we will – we will beat them.’’

Wenger added: “What is important is: have we the potential to beat Chelsea – I say yes. Are Chelsea a good team? I say yes, but we can beat a good team.”

Almunia’s continuing elbow problem means another chance for the much-maligned Lukasz Fabianski to stake his claim, having answered criticism with an impressive display in Belgrade, where he saved a late penalty in the 3-1 win.

“He had a good game (in Belgrade]) and can just add another good game to the first one. That’s what I want him to do and I am convinced he can do that,” Wenger said.