Arsenal face a huge few months ahead in the transfer market and their challenge will be a lot more difficult if the Gunners fail to secure the services of their key-players for the long-term, amidst plenty of speculation that suggests major outgoing deals.
The likes of Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have all been heavily linked with an exit away from the Emirates Stadium this summer, as they enter the final 12 months of their current contracts, whilst there has also been speculation concerning other players.
Experienced defender Laurent Koscielny is one of those who has been linked with an exit, with French outfit Marseille keen to bring the centre-half back to his homeland to bolster their squad, but the Gunners defender has crucially committed himself to Arsene Wenger’s project.
Koscielny committed his future to Arsenal earlier in the season by signing a contract extension until 2020, which was confirmed by the club in January, and the 30-year-old has told French outlet TeleFoot he will not be on the move.
“I have a contract with Arsenal, I even signed an extension last November [the club confirmed the deal in January] until 2020. 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.”
The Arsenal vice-captain is likely to wear the armband consistently next season, with veteran skipper Per Mertesacker well into the twilight years of his career, and the Gunners need to prepare for Koscielny’s inevitable departure.
Koscielny recently revealed he requires daily treatment on an achilles injury he first sustained in 2014, which raises concerns about his fitness, but the French defender will be crucial next season and will be expected to play regularly in whatever set-up Arsenal utilise.
It’s likely that Arsenal will continue with the three-man defence that excelled in the latter stages of last season, which is likely to see Koscielny joined at the back by Shkodran Mustafi and Rob Holding- with the likes of Mertesacker, Gabriel Paulista, Nacho Monreal and Calum Chambers providing alternative options.
Turning 32 in September, Arsenal need to prepare to find a replacement for Koscileny in the coming years but the fact he’s secured his future until the end of the current decade, where he will be 34, shows he remains in the Gunners’ long-term plans.