Santi Cazorla says that Laurent Koscielny is one of the best defenders in the world, after the 31 year old celebrated his birthday with an outstanding equalising goal for the Gunners yesterday.
The French international’s overhead kick levelled matters at the Emirates yesterday, and although the Spaniard got the winner from the penalty spot, he took time to praise the skipper’s contribution.
“It was a good goal, a very nice goal for him,” he said.
“It is amazing. He is one of the best defenders in the world, and we are lucky he plays for Arsenal so congratulations to LoLo – and happy birthday my friend!”
Cazorla was backed by Petr Cech, who said, “It was a great goal. We put them under pressure with that corner. The whole situation was that we were there, we were aggressive in the right place at the right time. It was the best skill to choose and it was a great goal.
“I think it is a goal of the season contender and it was his birthday today as well so it’s probably the best day for him.”
It remains to be seen how the swelling on Koscielny’s face impacts the manager’s team selection for Tuesday, but fingers crossed he’ll be available.
I love the celebration from Coq. Almost like a crazy dog. “I could totally kill you, but I love you”
When was the last time a striker scored like that for us? Koscielny has more balls than all them strikers combined. Kos is a boss.
Giroud vs Palace…. last season? Think it was around this time last season, in fact.
But yeah, would be nice to see one of these every few games or so.
That strike was 50% quality but more importantly 50% pure fucking unadulterated desire to win..the rest of the lads would do good to imbibe some of that character off their skipper..love Kos ??
That celebration was immense! Nothing like an excited, reckless Coq to get me out of my seat!
Kos is now as good as any CB in the Premier League. That’s saying something..! I just hope that he can keep his superb fitness up to standard well into his late thirties.
Most CB arent as good as the Boss for the last few seasons.
I would suggest Koscielny is as good as any CB in the world, not only in the PL. There are a few players ahead of him like Godin, Thiago Silva and Boateng, but he’s a top 10 CB in the world imo.
top 5.
Boateng? Thiago Silva? Nahhhhh. Boateng is not great, although maybe he’ll be better now without Pep and Thiago Silva is past it.
Godin? Naaaaah, he has an easy job, his full back don’t go past half way and neither do the 2 sitting midfielders.
Boateng and Godin are in the world’s best defenders bracket for sure! Kos is too. after he settled at arsenal he’s been one of our most consistent players. cemented
Thiago Silva is never above Kos.
Of all our current players, Koscielny is the only one I could see taking somebody’s spot in the invincibles team
One of the biggest compliments you could make, but I think you are right
Agreed. Kos alongside Sol could be a strong partnership. Koscielny is a better and more important player for us than Kolo was, even though he was great too. Would put Ozil instead of Freddie though.
Even that is a push.
Kolo was immense that season and Sol too. Not knocking Lolo as he is the best captain we have had since possibly Adams but Sol & Kolo that season were beasts!!
When we need someone to look up to and make a stand and to make a difference, Kos just gets in there and does just that. Such an under-rated player. One of the CB in world football! Hope he plays on Tuesday. COYG!
It really sucks that he’s the only one who is motivated and making a difference even after the disappointment of the euros. If only the whole team showed half the passion he’s showing on the pitch.
I remember listening to talk shite before I stopped tuning in to that cunt Durham and the out and out mug that is Gough and they were laughing at kos and Arsenal saying how poor he was compared to others. Mugs and pair of sum em up me thinks.
They’re not mugs. They’re quite clever. They are professional trolls, they talk crap and make idiots angry, angry enough to call a premium rate number and shout at them.
They’re laughing all the way to the bank mate.
Indeed we are very very lucky to have one of the best defenders in football,and kudos must go arsene Wenger for spotting the him earlier,I could remember when some dull arsenal fans are criticizing Wenger for buying him then.
Lolo for number 9…..no?
He has really improved with time – Wenger should get credit for sticking with him and helping him become the player he is now – remembering that he was effectively a Ligue 2 player before we bought him. Who would have thought he would outlast Vermaelen for example ?
A centre back scoring a bicycle kick should really be worth 50 points in fantasy football.
Great to see the captain leading by example.
We really are lucky to have him playing for us.#KOSTHEBOSS
3 POINT TO MAKE ARSEBLOG WELL BACK. GUTE BESSERUNG ANDREW. COYG
Eh?
Best centre back in the world in my humble and non-bias gooner opinion.
An outstanding goal from a very special and outstanding player. It wasn’t a fluke, he knew exactly what he was doing and how he was doing it. He wanted that goal so badly he was willing to try anything,put himself on the line to get it,…….and these idiot pundits they say we don’t have a leader in the team?..that we lack passion? Well, they should go watch this video, and particularly watch his reaction after scoring a wonder goal….he wasn’t gloating or celebrating, instead, he was in a hurry,urging his mates on as if saying “c’mon, we have to win… Read more »
Can we try Kos at centre forward if Giroud and Perez does not work during a game?
Just before everyone gets carried away, just worth remembering the difficult start he had with us and how long it took him to settle in. Of course that was also a very difficult team to come into but plenty of Own goals and Reds littered his path toward where he is now. It illustrates the folly of many fans into coming to judgement on players so quickly. But is also highlights the mental strength that Koscielny has to put these negatives aside and continue to develop into the player he is now. Not bad for one of the typical less… Read more »
What do you mean by plenty and littered exactly ?
According to several stats sites i looked at, since arriving at Arsenal and after 251 appearances for Arsenal :
* the Boss has scored 3 own goals in all comps… 2 in 11/12 season and 1 in 12/13 season.
* the Boss has been given 5 red cards in all comps… 2 in 10/11 season, 1 in 12/13 season, 2 in 13/14 season.
3 OG in 251 matches.
5 RC in 251 matches…
for me, that’s not plenty and not littered.
It’s crazy that Laurent cost €11m yet we have to pay €40m for someone not as good to play alongside him!!
Smart
but look at all the money city spent on defenders nowhere near as good as koscielny, mustafi will probably turn out to be much better value than any of them