Saed Kolasinac is 'built like one of those north London brick toilets', hails Garth Crooks after the Arsenal defender's display in Chelsea draw

  • Arsenal drew 0-0 at bitter London rivals Chelsea on Sunday afternoon 
  • Saed Kolasinac impressed in the Gunners' defence at Stamford Bridge
  • The defender was on the receiving end of a horror David Luiz tackle late on 

He has strong links to Tottenham but Garth Crooks has been effusive in his praise for a player from their fiercest rivals.

Arsenal defender Saed Kolasinac has made an instant impact at the club since joining on a free transfer from Schalke this summer.

And the 24-year-old's brilliant display in their 0-0 draw at Premier League champions Chelsea on Sunday hasn't gone unnoticed by Crooks.

Arsenal's Saed Kolasinac has been praised for his display against Chelsea by Garth Crooks

Arsenal's Saed Kolasinac has been praised for his display against Chelsea by Garth Crooks

The BBC pundit compared the defender to being built like a 'north London brick toilet'

The BBC pundit compared the defender to being built like a 'north London brick toilet'

The 24-year-old shone as the Gunners earned a 0-0 draw at Chelsea on Sunday afternoon

The 24-year-old shone as the Gunners earned a 0-0 draw at Chelsea on Sunday afternoon

Writing in his column for BBC Sport, Crooks took an unusual turn in comparing the Bosnia-Herzegovina international to a 'brick toilet' before condemning David Luiz for his horror tackle on Kolasinac - a challenge that he withstood.


'Sead Kolasinac is built like one of those north London brick toilets that withstood bombing raids during the Second World War,' he wrote.

'Even after the most awful tackle by my defender of the year last season, David Luiz, he rose to his feet determined to finish the game.

'The way Luiz overran the ball in an attempt to draw Kolasinac into the challenge left me in no doubt that the Chelsea defender knew exactly what he was doing. In my view, he wanted a piece of Kolasinac.

'In my playing days, both men would have received a standing ovation for a tackle like that - Luiz for throwing down the gauntlet and Kolasinac for accepting it.

'Even though the Arsenal defender came off worst, the impressive Bosnia-Herzegovina international finished the game and with it earned a moral victory.'

Arsenal supporters will be hoping for a similar display from their No 31 when they face Doncaster in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night. 

Chelsea defender David Luiz was shown a red card by Michael Oliver for his foul on Kolasinac

Chelsea defender David Luiz was shown a red card by Michael Oliver for his foul on Kolasinac

The Brazilian went over the top of the ball and caused dangerous play against Arsenal late on

The Brazilian went over the top of the ball and caused dangerous play against Arsenal late on

The centre back is set for a three-match ban for this horrendous challenge on Kolasinac

The centre back is set for a three-match ban for this horrendous challenge on Kolasinac