Koscielny more of a liability than Wenger would care to admit

The most faithful of Arsenal fans may have had to pinch themselves when the rumours started doing the rounds this week that Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is considering breaking the habit of a lifetime in order to splash the cash in a big way to secure the services of Borussia Dortmund centre-back Neven Subotic. However, few other football fans would have been in the slightest bit surprised, such is the worrying extent of Arsenal's woes in their back line.

It seems blindingly obvious to anyone who has watched Arsenal play this season that Wenger needs to set aside philosophy and the long-term "project" he's working on at the Emirates and bolster the Gunners' defence as quickly as possible. The need would not, perhaps, be so great had Arsenal been able to rely upon the talented and reliable Thomas Vermaelen. However, the 24-year-old has been ruled out for an indefinite period of time as his bid to return to full fitness after suffering an injury a couple of months ago suffered a severe knock.

With Vermaelen out of action, summer signing Laurent Koscielny has been thrust into first team action on far more of a regular basis than Wenger would have felt comfortable with before the season started. In fact, Koscielny seems to be the source of many of Arsenal's problems. Not only has he been sent off twice already this season but he has also been at fault for giving opponents clear sights at goal on more than one occasion.

Last weekend, the player's lack of experience was clear for all to see, with Andy Carroll taking advantage of the player's lack of pace, movement, and conviction by firing a header into the Arsenal net. The goal condemned the side to defeat in a match the Arsenal betting tips suggested they would win. Wenger would surely have expected more from a player he paid £8 million for.

For Arsenal fans, this new arrival has provided them with far too many worrying moments than is acceptable for a player plying his trade in the top league
If Arsenal are successful in their bid to attract Subotic, who has been instrumental in leading his side to the top of the Bundesliga this season and is thought to be a man in the mould of United stalwart Nemanja Vidic, Wenger won't have to rely upon players such as Koscielny who simply don't make the grade at the top level. If, however, their bid fails and their fine attacking efforts continue to be undermined by catastrophic individual errors in defence, Arsenal's miserable trophy drought won't be coming to an end any time soon.

Meanwhile, the Everton betting suggests the side are still on for a European spot despite a slow start to the season.

The side are currently 12th in the table, but are just two points off fifth.