Skip to content

Laurent Koscielny ruled out of Arsenal's next Premier League match

Carl Recine / Action Images

Manager Arsene Wenger confirmed Thursday that defender Laurent Koscielny will miss Arsenal's weekend match against Hull City with an Achilles injury.

Koscielny was released from the France squad during the international break after the country's medical staff discovered acute tendinitis in both Achilles tendons.

"He has an Achilles problem, which has got worse," Wenger said during his pre-match press conference, courtesy of the team's website. "He finds it difficult to play with it at the moment. You can only trust what the players says, he does not feel ready to play and will not play on Saturday."

Wenger, however, confirmed the French international will not need surgery, saying scans on the tendon revealed no major deterioration.

"An inflammation of an Achilles tendon, if you wait for it to be better, it can be a short time.

"If you want to get rid of it completely, it is long term. We will monitor him and as soon as he can take enough pain again he will play," Wenger said.

Koscielny's absence, coupled with Mathieu Debuchy's long-term injury, likely means Hector Bellerin will see increased playing time.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox