Lighting-quick Arsenal right-back has been talking about the sternest test he has faced in his career so far – and it came not too long ago.
In his “big interview” with the Gunners’ official website, the young Spaniard was asked about his toughest opponent so far. As a right-back, his answer was likely to be a striker or winger – and that it is.
Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal side beat Bayern Munich 2-0 in this season’s UEFA Champions League group stage game at the Emirates – but lost 5-1 at the Allianz Arena in the reverse fixture two weeks later.
It was a hard game and he [Douglas Costa] was a hard player to defend against. It wasn’t just because of the quality he has. It was a game that we knew we weren’t going to have the ball in. You’re following the ball for two minutes, moving from side to side, and at the end of the day, that’s tiring.
Then, after those two minutes, the ball goes to Douglas Costa and you know you have to face a one-against-one with probably one of the top three players in those situations. He had some tricks and sometimes you just have to hold your hands up and say ‘wow, I didn’t even see that coming’.
Costa, 25, is renowned for his pace and trickery down the wing, and is also a good finisher and has played as a striker in the past.
As a top defender, you need to know what the striker is going to do and what the best way to defend him is. But sometimes there’s so much quality in some players that it’s difficult for every single defender out there. I’m not ashamed or anything like that because sometimes when you play against guys of that quality, there’s not much you can do about it.
But the fact that we came out with a win meant that it didn’t matter how we did it. Yeah, it’s important that you play well and that people enjoy watching the football, but if you go away with a 2-0 win at home against Bayern Munich, for me it didn’t matter how the performance was at the end.
If Costa was a tricky opponent for Hector, he’ll be waiting in nervous anticipation for Arsenal’s round of 16 tie in the Champions League; he will return to face his hometown team in the shape of FC Barcelona – who boast Neymar’s abilities on their left-wing. It will be a stern test for the young right-back.
