LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 30: Laurent Koscielny of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal at White Hart Lane on April 30, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images )

Arsene Wenger has hinted he’ll start Laurent Koscielny against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday after criticising his side’s defending against Stoke City.

The Gunners lost 1-0 against the Potters at the Bet365 Stadium after Jese Rodriguez scored the only goal of the game shortly after the interval.

Wenger’s side had 77% possession against Mark Hughes’ side and created a number of chances but it was the slack defending that cost them a share of the spoils.

Koscielny missed the game after serving the final game of his three-match suspension and is fit to start as the Gunners take on Liverpool on Sunday.

Arsenal had 77% possession against Stoke but lost 1-0 (Picture: Getty)

And Wenger’s hinted that he’ll take a gamble by starting Koscielny on Merseyside.

‘We lost the game on Saturday because defensively we gave a cheap goal away, and it’s good to have him [Koscielny] back,’ said Wenger.

‘It’s been very hard, because I didn’t even consider him for friendly games, you know, because I had to play some defenders.

‘I think what hurt him a lot was to miss the cup final. He had a reaction in the final game of the season against Everton that was unlucky.

‘He’s a very quiet guy and sometimes he can get rushed because he realises, he thinks always he has the speed and the pace to win the tackle; in this case he didn’t.’

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