Arsenal: Laurent Koscielny exit unfathomably scary

Laurent Koscielny is being linked with a possible move to Marseille. His exit would be unfathomably scary for an Arsenal side devoid of character and quality in his absence.

Holding onto your star players is never an easy or comfortable task. Unless you have the profusion and the prominence of a Barcelona or Bayern Munich, rarely is it the case that your top players are not attracted by the grass that is greener on the other side. And that much has certainly been true for Arsenal for many years.

Ever since the move to the Emirates stadium placed heavy restrictions on the finances that Arsene Wenger had available to him, the club were always on the back foot when it came to negotiations with their own players. Thierry Henry, Cesc Fabregas, Emmanuel Adebayor, Samir Nasri, Robin van Persie. The names roll off the tongue like poison.

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And that task of protecting talent has only got harder now that Champions League football is no longer on offer. For the first time in Wenger’s tenure, Arsenal finished outside the top four and, subsequently, will be painfully absent from the draw for Europe’s elite competition next season. The Champions League is, without a doubt, a pull for potential recruits and a reason to stay for many current stars.

The Champions League is, without a doubt, a pull for potential recruits and a reason to stay for many current stars. But without it, the myriad of top class players that currently pervade the Gunners’ squad could be wanting away, with many clubs across the continent hopeful of being fortunate benefactors of the North London side’s faltering in the Premier League.

That is the hope of Marseille. According to a report in the Sun, they are exploring the possibility of bringing Laurent Koscielny, offering him the chance to return to France and to challenge for the Ligue 1 title given the fulfilment of promises of heavy investment that have been made.

That would be a terrifying turn of events. Koscielny is the heart of the back four; his passion for the club is clear to see, his leadership skills are evident and his communication and instruction on the pitch invaluable. Not only is he the best individual defender in the squad, but he markedly improves the performance of those around him when he plays, such is his influence on the game.

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If Koscielny were to leave, then it would be an extremely task to find a ready-made, suitable replacement. Whether this is a likely transfer or not remains to be seen. But the ramifications are unfathomably scary and Arsenal should avoid allowing him to leave at all costs.

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