Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno has revealed club captain Laurent Koscielny’s role in the Gunners’ impressive unbeaten run this season.
Saturday’s win over Huddersfield lengthened Arsenal’s run without a loss to 21 matches, under their new manager.
Koscielny has not featured at all under Unai Emery after suffering a ruptured achilles tendon seven months ago, but could return in Thursday’s Europa League clash with Qarabag.
Leno has been keen to highlight how significant the French defender has been in boosting the morale of the squad despite his injury, however.
Speaking before Thursday’s match, as quoted in the Mirror, he said: “Laurent is our captain. He is a big personality and of course he has big quality.
“I am happy for him that maybe he will start on Thursday and of course he will be an option for the main starting XI in the next weeks.
“In training you see how he is talking to the other players and for me he is a big personality in the team and in the dressing room.
“Before the Tottenham game, he was not in the squad but five minutes before the game he said many, many good things about the history of the game, how important it is for the fans, the club, every player, so he is the perfect captain for us.”
OPINION
It’s easy to forget sometimes that football doesn’t begin and end on the blow of a referee’s whistle. For every professional player across the world, it is a job, and like any job it is important to be comfortable and confident in what you do. Having a personality like Laurent Koscielny’s isn’t just important on the pitch, it can also be a huge influence off it. The main problem Arsenal had towards the end of Arsene Wenger’s time in charge at the Emirates was a lack of belief in the club’s capability to challenge to top teams in Europe. While one good run under Emery isn’t going to be enough to completely erase some of the damaged reputation that years of stagnation brought about, it has gone a long way to suggesting that the future may be bright. Key to that transformation has been a change in mindset, and it’s important not to understate the role of leader like Koscielny, motivating and encouraging his teammates. The Frenchman has been a wonderful servant to Arsenal over the years, and it will be a joy to see him make a thoroughly deserved return.