Koscielny to Strengthen Arsenal's Defence
In a quest to strengthen his team’s defensive line, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has completed the signing of French defender Laurent Koscielny, who is also eligible to represent Poland in international football.
After defensive mishaps put an end to Arsenal’s title hopes late in the 2009/2010 season, and with defenders William Gallas, Phillippe Senderos and Mikael Silvestre all on their way out, Wenger knows that his club will not survive another season without defensive reinforcements.
Struggling defensively ever since winning the Premier League with a fantastic unbeaten run in the 2003/2004 season, Koscielny is confident that he can help put an end to Arsenal’s woes.
“I am very confident,” said Koscielny upon signing a four-year deal that is reported to be worth between £8.5 and £10 million pounds.
The 24-year-old Frenchman will compete with Swiss defender Johan Djorou and England’s Sol Campbell for a place alongside Thomas Vermaelen in Arsenal’s central defence.
The signing of Vermaelen from Dutch side Ajax for a similar fee last summer was another attempt by Wenger to strengthen his back-four. While the Belgian defender has delivered commanding performances throughout his first season, though, some of his teammates have not.
Koscielny, arriving from French Ligue-1 side Lorient, is confident that he can face the challenge.
“It takes a lot of work especially in the defence," he said at the press conference, letting the media know that he will seek to get to know his teammates as quickly as possible.
"You need to know your colleagues very well and you need to work hard every day,” he said.
“It is important to have those relationships quickly. I hope we will have a fantastic season this year and get that Premier League title. I came here to improve myself and win titles,” he added.
Playing for Tours in the French second division as late as the 2008/2009 season, Koscielny was voted the player of the year in that season and was signed by first-divison side Lorient in June 2009, where he scored 3 goals in 35 appearances during the last season.
Koscielny will be wearing Senderos’ former no. 6 shirt at Arsenal, and will be looking to impress at a club that adds young talent to its ranks regularly.
Wenger, managing the club since 1996, has been known to build teams around young, mobile players as opposed to approaching more experienced and expensive players in the transfer market.
At times, his youngsters produce stunning football, but they have also been criticized for buckling under pressure during the key games of the season.
Arsenal's last piece of silverware was claimed in 2005, when it won the FA Cup final, defeating Manchester United on penalties.
In 2006, Arsenal’s young squad lost the Champions League final to Spanish side Barcelona.
Despite the criticism and lack of successes, the North London team has not finished below 4th in the league since Wenger took charge. He can also add 3 league wins and 4 FA Cup wins to his list of achievements at the club.
"Koscielny is a central defender with great ability who performed extremely well last season for Lorient," said Wenger at the press conference.
With this 24-year-old addition to his squad, the Frenchman is showing few signs of giving up his footballing philosophy, which seeks to play quick, passing football where movement is key and spectators are left entertained.
But Wenger also suggested that there is a rougher component to Koscielny that could be needed in his team. "He has shown he is mentally strong, he's a fighter and a very strong competitor. Koscielny is a great addition to our squad."
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