Jenkinson is a backup player. Sagna is a starter. So our defenders have better credentials internationally and has better stats......yet thats not enough. mertesacker is right now one of Europes best cB. he may not be the quickest. But he has great postional sense and reading of the game. There's a reason why he's still the nr 1 CB for germany.
Looking at it this way-
Howard v Szczesny - On current form I would say szczesny, just. But this is really close because Howard has hit some great form as of late
Sagna v Coleman - In my opinion, Coleman is one of the most under rated players in the league, and wins this one. Sagna is decent, but he's no Seamus. Coleman, just.
Jagielka v Koscielny - Jags is the best centre half this country has had since Terry was in his prime, pisses all over Rio, Cahill etc for me. Having said this Koscielny is obviously a top centre back as well, so this is a tie.
Mertesacker v Distin - Two polar opposites here, physically challenged vs physically inhumane. Mertesacker does seem to have this reading of the game which is just above and beyond all overs' though, so on balance, Mertesacker. Just.
Baines/Oviedo v Gibbs/Monreal - Let's get one thing straight. Baines is the best out of all of them. But as he's injured, Oviedo is on a great run of form, and so I'd play him as a tie with Gibbs at the moment, as Gibbs looks a little suspect at the back at times. I do rate Monreal, however, I still don't see him outplaying Oviedo on sunday, so a tie, but only due to Oviedo's great form.
Overall Its 2-1 to yous, with 2 ties. IMO, it's really tight, but you have had the likes of Ramsey, Flamini and Ozil playing in front, which is probably the best midfield in the league. This makes your job at the back a whole world easier, although we haven't had too much difficulty with Barkley, McCarthy and Barry. However this is a level down, and when these are away, this leaves Osman, which is fairly worrying compared to your Wilshere, Arteta etc
