Injury update: Laurent Koscielny making progress

Arsenal centerback Laurent Koscielny is making good progress in his recovery from an Achilles injury, Sports Illustrated reported recently.

That Achilles tendon had been a problem for Kos for some time before it finally ruptured during Arsenal’s second Europa League match against Atlético Madrid in early May. The injury required surgery, and Kos was given a six-month timeframe for returning to the pitch, which meant that he missed playing in what he expected to be his final World Cup for France.

Kos, having reached the six-week mark in his recovery, provided Gooners with an update in the form of an Instagram video. Arsenal’s frequent on-pitch captain wore a boot-type support on his injured foot and took a few steps without the aid of crutches, commenting, “It’s good to walk again.” He also went into detail about what the rest of his recovery will look like—he hopes to resume jogging in three months and start kicking a ball around again in five, which would keep him about on that initial six-month schedule.

Meanwhile, Unai Emery will need to fill Koscielny’s spot on the pitch. He has Shkodran Mustafi, Rob Holding, Konstantinos Mavropanos, and Calum Chambers, who David Ornstein says will sign a contract extension soon, already at the club and available to play at centerback, and the club could still bring in Sokratis Papastathopoulos from Borussia Dortmund. With Kos out for at least the beginning of the 2018-2019 season, Chambers will have a chance to pin down a starting sport with the first team, and Mavropanos might get more frequent outings as well.