Wenger lauds Koscielny

Arsene Wenger feels Laurent Koscielny has developed into one of the best centre-halves in the Premier League this term.

The Frenchman was heavily criticised last season as Arsenal’s campaign crumbled, culminating in a terrible error between himself and goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny in the League Cup final.

The 26-year-old failed to deal with what should have been a routine clearance, allowing Obafemi Martins to prod home late on for Birmingham to win against the odds.

This year has been a different story altogether for Koscielny though, who has been a mainstay in the Arsenal defence.

Wenger told Arsenal.com that the first time he saw him, he knew his fellow countryman had all the necessary attributes to make it in England.

“We found him in France of course, from a smaller team. But you could see that there was something special there,” Wenger said.

“He played at Lorient but first he played with a friend of mine in Tours, who talked to me about him when he played in the second division. Then of course we monitored him with our scouts.”

Wenger admitted Koscielny may have struggled with the physical side of the game in England but now feels his strength is one of his primary attributes.

“I believe that last year you could already see the potential but he did not have that dominance in the duels that he has found this season,” Wenger said.

“That makes him, I personally believe, one of the top-class central defenders in the Premier League.”