REPORT: Arsenal agrees to sell CB Laurent Koscielny to Bordeaux

According to Get French Football News, Arsenal have agreed to sell long-time defender Laurent Koscielny to Bordeaux:

As noted, L’Équipe has Koscielny in Bordeaux for a medical test tomorrow.

While his sale would certainly help recoup some of the money spent in this window (though Transfermarkt has Koscielny currently valued just above $9m), the bigger impact would be a departing CB from a group that has certainly underwhelmed as of late. And while Arsenal signed St-Étienne centre-back William Saliba late last month, he’s staying there on loan for a season before coming to North London (presumably...) for the 2020-21 campaign.

As Nathan covered earlier today, that might leave Arsenal starting Sokratis and Calum Chambers on Sunday as we kick off the season against Newcastle lest Shkodran Mustafi somehow earn the start.

It’s an inauspicious exit for the Frenchman.

Koscielny arrived in the 2010 summer transfer window and helped lead some quality defenses that allowed less than 40 goals conceded three times as he ascended to the captaincy along with fellow CB Per Mertesacker following Santi Cazorla and Mikel Arteta’s time wearing the armband. But after an injury at the end of the 2018-19 meant Koscielny would miss the 2018 World Cup, a contract row with Arsenal in the last few months soured the relationship and put Koscielny on a track out of London.

His time with Arsenal shouldn’t be colored by his exit.

He was a loyal servant for years and a good steward for former Manager Arsène Wenger.

Should the reports hold true, I wish him nothing but the best back in Ligue 1.

I hope fellow Arsenal supporters remember Kos for the good times.