Arsene Wenger Praises Koscielny as Quick and Sharp

Laurent Koscielny

‘He is quick, sharp and reads the game well’

Arsène Wenger sang the praises of Laurent Koscielny once more after his excellent display at Stamford Bridge.

The French centre-back performed admirably alongside Per Mertesacker at the heart of defence as Arsenal came from behind to record a stunning 5-3 victory at Stamford Bridge.

Koscielny has gone from strength to strength since his move from Lorient in the summer of 2010 and manager Wenger says he will only continue to improve.

“I believe Koscielny is a top centre-back,” he said. “He is 25, has had one year at the top level in France and is in his second year here.

“Last week as well he was top class. He goes from strength to strength. He is less impressive in his size – he is not six foot three – but he is quick, sharp and reads the game well.”

The centre back was something of an unknown quantity when he arrived at Emirates Stadium last summer but he has been a revelation this season, establishing himself at the heart of Arsenal's defence with a series of fine performances. And yet it's only two years since he was plying his trade in the second tier of French football.

Koscielny was Ligue 2 Player of the Year in 2009 and earned a move to Lorient, for whom he scored his first goal in the French top-flight in a 1-1 draw at Marseille in March 2010. With L'OM back in his sights in the Champions League tonight, Koscielny cannot quite believe his meteoric rise.

"Two years ago I scored with Lorient in Marseille. Since then, so many things have happened to me," he said.

"If someone had told me that I would now be playing for Arsenal, that I would have beaten Lionel Messi's Barcelona team and had been called up for France, I would not have believed it. It has been two crazy years.

"I often think of my unusual journey to the top level. I had some difficult moments which made me who I am now. I know where I'm coming from and what I had to do to get where I'm now.

"I had three great managers in Daniel Sanchez in Tours, Christian Gourcuff and now Arsene Wenger. They are very similar and share the same philosophy of football. Everything went so fast and I know that it could go as fast in the other way so I'm staying very humble. I respect football. If you get carried away, things will get back at you.

"We are approaching the Marseille game with a real momentum. We are starting to hate losing. We know they have some good players and we will have to be serious and play like we did at Chelsea. Its a very important game as if we win, we will have 10 points and be almost through."

Source: Arsenal.com