Wenger wants Koscielny rested for France friendly

With a massive pair of fixtures against Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain on the other side of the international break, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger hopes France will rest centre-back Laurent Koscielny for Tuesday's friendly with Ivory Coast.

Koscielny played all 90 minutes in France's World Cup qualifier victory over Sweden. That win keeps Les Bleus top of Group A, and with that out of the way, the veteran gaffer reckons his star defender could use a break.

"I've never tried to prevent a player from international duty. When it's a competitive game I never intervene," Wenger told beIN Sports, according to the Mail Online's Alex Martin.

"France plays a friendly with Ivory Coast in the second game on Tuesday night. I can't see the purpose of Koscielny playing the second game."

After striker Alexis Sanchez picked up a hamstring niggle on international duty with Chile and right-back Hector Bellerin reportedly suffered an ankle concern while with Spain's Under-21 team, Wenger's concerns are painfully legitimate.

Related: Wenger hopes Chile will avoid 'suicidal decision' to let Sanchez play injured

"I understand completely him playing against Sweden. It's difficult to understand him playing the whole game against Ivory Coast because afterwards we play at Manchester United and then Paris Saint-Germain," Wenger said.

"If it's not needed, you try to find a compromise that suits both parties. I could ring (Didier Deschamps), but most of the time I don't do it."

With Koscielny and Real Madrid's Raphael Varane having played the entirety of Friday's win, Deschamps could opt for Sevilla's Adil Rami and Valencia's Eliaquim Mangala on Tuesday in Lens against the Ivory Coast. Wenger and his Los Blancos counterpart Zinedine Zidane would appreciate the gesture.