Arsenal: Laurent Koscielny Puts Rumors Where They Belong

Arsenal have a lot of players dealing with exit rumors as a byproduct of success, but Laurent Koscielny knows how to deal with such nonsense.

With success comes rumors of exits. Especially when Arsenal spent nearly a decade dealing with a mass string of exits to pay off a stadium that Arsene Wenger will in no way share. As long as Arsenal is seen as a tier below the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, there will always be that sense that players at Arsenal feel they can take it one step higher.

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However, Laurent Koscielny has gone ahead and put exit rumors right where they belong. When asked about past links to such teams as Real Madrid, Koscielny did not dawdle over the concept of being at the Bernebeu, he did not bask in the potential glory of La Liga; the Boss shut it down.

“I have no reason to go and look elsewhere,” he said, as quoted by ESPNFC. “I have everything I need to blossom. There were teams interested in me but I always asked myself if it was worth taking the risk. I’ve seen a good few players leave for a bigger club and find themselves on the substitutes’ bench. At the start of my career I was often on the bench. I hated it. I said to myself — never again.”

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Nothing is more appreciated than his unnamed digs at Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy and Samir Nasri, all of whom took the paycheck and moved to Manchester City, where two of the three have never been heard from again.

Arsene Wenger has given Laurent Koscielny everything he has ever needed and for that, Koscielny is happy at Arsenal. He has become an irreplaceable part of the Gunners set up and for years to come, this Arsenal defense will be anchored by the best defender in the Premier League.

Players like Aaron Ramsey could take a note out of Laurent Koscielny’s book. Ramsey has been linked to a move to Barcelona and he has done next to nothing to quell the anxieties of Arsenal fans. He has even gone so far as to say that he would like to play in Spain some day.

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Whatever his personal desires are, that is fine. But Ramsey has a very unique opportunity to be the centerpiece of this Arsenal squad for a decade but his willingness to welcome exotic fancies to other teams hinder the natural inclination to look to him as a potential captain. The last thing Arsenal need is another captain moving to Barcelona.

Laurent Koscielny could ascend to the captaincy himself. After all, since the title is more so an honorarium at Arsenal, it only makes sense that as he gets older, he inches closer to that captain’s role. However, it is hard to imagine a future where Koscielny wields the captain’s armband like Arteta does.

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Having Koscielny in the locker room sets an excellent example to everyone associated with Arsenal that this club does things differently. Long live the boss!