Injury saw Laurent Koscielny cancel planned Arsenal exit, says agent

Laurent Koscielny was planning to leave the Gunners over the summer before his injury according to the player’s agent.

The Arsenal defender missed the World Cup in Russia after rupturing his Achilles tendon.

According to the player’s agent, Stephane Courbis, several Ligue 1 clubs were interested in the player with Lyon, Monaco and Marseille all making proposals.

“When he banged the floor with his hand, I immediately knew that it was serious, that it was over,” Courbis told France Football.

“Everything at that moment went through my mind, including the worst, which was validated when it emerged that it was an Achilles rupture and that he would miss the World Cup. Laurent was perhaps playing the final matches of his Arsenal career.

“He started thinking about a possible departure from Arsenal at the same time as Arsène Wenger. It was the right moment, the final moment to leave with the arrival of the new manager.

“I had already anticipated this, with two or three offers that were starting to make us think. We were open to different options, China as much as France.

“He could not see himself playing for another English team other than Arsenal. Since the approach from Marseille last season, the notion of returning to Ligue 1 entered his thinking. It was a genuine possibility.”

Could Koscielny tighten up a leaky Arsenal defence?

(Photo credit PAUL FAITH/AFP/Getty Images)

Arsenal could use Laurent Koscielny after conceding eight goals in their first four games including shipping three against Chelsea and two against both Manchester City and Cardiff.

Over the summer, they signed Greek defender Sokratis as well as experienced right-back Stephan Lichtsteiner yet having Koscielny back would give Unai Emery a huge boost, adding another leader in defence.

The plan is to ease the French defender back into training in November as repairs to the right Achilles tendon look to be healing following surgery.

The Gunners face Newcastle at St James Park next, after the international break, as Unai Emery’s side look to make it three wins on the bounce.

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