4th May 2018. Arsenal visit Wanda Metropolitano to play Atletico Madrid in the Europa League semi-finals. We are twelve minutes in and Arsenal Captain Laurent Koscielny is down, looks in pain and frustration and probably tears.
The Gunners star ruptured his Achilles and that was it. The end. End of his season, end of his France career and mainly it was End of his World Cup dream.
WATCH: Koscielny Horrific Injury Vs Atletico Madrid
SCREAMING
Laurent Koscielny was screaming in pain with his head towards the ground when Arsenal’s medical staffs attended him that night. He kept on screaming – ‘He (Diego Costa) kicked me! he kicked me!’ but former Chelsea striker was about a meter from him. For a player to feel like that when no one is around – indicates that it’s very bad.
In the video, which you can watch below, Head of Sports Medicine at Arsenal, Dr. Gary O’Driscoll, reveals how Costa reacted when Koscielny complained about the kicks.
“Laurent was in significant pain and he said to me: ‘He kicked me! He kicked me!'” O’Driscoll reveals in the Laurent Koscielny: Stronger documentary.
“The fact that there was an audible snap on the pitch and there was no-one near him just indicated that this was a serious injury and one that hadn’t been caused by a foul.”
ANTOINE GREIZEMANN CUDDLES KOS!
Laurent Koscielny is one of the most respected players in Arsenal’s dressing room and for him to go down like ‘How he did’ was going to impact players alot. They got in the dressing room at the half time and there were lots of hugs in there.
But one hug stood out, Atletico Madrid’s star Antoine Greizemann came in Arsenal’s dressing room at the stroke of half time to see Koscielny. They hugged and cuddled, and that moment was emotional for both of them.
There were three or four of us in the dressing room. Laurent was lying on the bed, close to tears. It was an extremely emotional moment,” O’Driscoll added.
“The half-time whistle went and suddenly all the players came in. The level of endearment and respect and love for Laurent was apparent straight away
“All the players came over, there was lots of hugs. And then the team went off for the team talk. I stayed with Laurent.
“And then there was a very emotional moment when one of the players from the opposition came in and it was Antoine Griezmann.
“He walked in and he went over and he put his arm round him. The two of them had a fond embrace, even a cuddle and it was a prolonged one.
“Griezmann didn’t say to me: ‘How bad is this?’
“They looked at each other and they almost knew what the implications were.
“I think that made a big impression on Laurent. He knew not only that he was cared for and loved within the dressing room but that also that people outside were all thinking of him and were all caring about what was going to happen next while also being aware that this was probably the end of his World Cup.”
EMOTIONAL ME
I was pretty emotional back when we lost him for this long and trust me – watching him back in Arsenal colors brings a big smile to my face.
Its not only me but also every one of my Gooner brothers out there, and if you haven’t felt it uptight then you would when you what this Emotional video released by Arsenal.
WATCH: LAURENT KOSCIELNY – STRONGER DOCUMENTARY
