Laurent Koscielny has reiterated his desire to remain at Arsenal after being asked whether he would be interested in returning to Ligue 1.
The 31-year-old only signed a new contract midway through last season keeping him at Arsenal until 2020 after establishing himself as one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League in recent seasons.
However, Koscielny, who is currently on international duty with France, has been forced to reaffirm his commitment to the Gunners after being asked whether he would be interested in returning to Ligue 1 and joining Marseille.
“I have a contract with Arsenal, I even signed an extension last November [the club confirmed the deal in January] until 2020,” London Evening Standard quote the Frenchman as saying.
“I feel very good over there. I have always said that I was a Marseille fan when I was younger. When a mythical club like Marseille contact you, it is good. But will I sign for them? I have no idea at all.”
Koscielny’s importance to Arsenal was perhaps best illustrated during their humiliating Champions League exit to Bayern Munich last season.
Arsenal were drawing 1-1 against Bayern in the first leg when Koscielny was forced off with injury after 49 minutes before falling to a 5-1 defeat, while the Gunners were actually leading 1-0 in the return leg when their star defender was sent off. They not only surrendered their lead but ended up being thrashed 5-1 in the second leg.
Furthermore, in the last four Premier League campaigns Koscielny has completed more interceptions than any other player (400).
For more stats on Laurent Koscielny, click here to visit his WhoScored player page
