The limping linchpin: how Koscielny went from injury hell to Arsenal inspiration

The defender’s World Cup dream was shattered by injury. Now he is set for a Europa League final but the road back was tough

The snatches of thoughts that flashed through his mind in a moment of crisis were like a brutal cinematic scene. A little over a year ago, Laurent Koscielny lay, collapsed on the turf of the Wanda Metropolitano, one hand balled into a tight fist thumping the ground in unbearable frustration, the other clasped to his ankle. His mind whirred back to a recent conversation with his old teammate Francis Coquelin, who had just been through a rupture in the place where he felt overwhelming pain. “Like a knife cutting your achilles.” That was the feeling. “The pain, from one to 10, it’s an 11.” There had been no impact. His body just gave way all by itself.

Arsenal’s medical team rushed over and Koscielny’s wails announced the seriousness of the injury. “He wasn’t screaming in pain, it was a worse cry – of fear, of anxiety, of anguish,” the club doctor, Gary O’Driscoll remembers. Koscienly was shouting that Diego Costa had kicked him. The Atlético striker came over and tapped the medic on the shoulder. He soberly told the doctor he didn’t kick him. He had heard a snap.

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from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/may/27/laurent-koscielny-arsenal-europa-league-final-chelsea-injury-world-cup

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