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Laurent Koscielny: What it was like watching from the Arsenal bench against Bayern
LAURENT KOSCIELNY found it difficult to stomach how Arsenal were ripped apart by Bayern Munich after he left the pitch last night.
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The Gunners suffered a damaging 5-1 thrashing at the Allianz Arena to all but signal the end to their Champions League campaign.
Arsenal had plenty of reason to be optimistic at half-time with the score level at 1-1, having bagged an away goal to take back to north London.
However, the turning point appeared to be when captain Koscielny was forced off through injury early in the second half.
Laurent Koscielny found it difficult to watch Arsenal from the bench in the second half at Bayern
Gabriel replaced the France international at centre-half on 49 minutes, but Arsenal then conceded three goals within a 10-minute period shortly after.
Thomas Muller put the icing on the cake for Bayern late on, leaving Arsene Wenger’s side facing a seventh successive exit at the last 16 stage.
Koscielny was left understandably frustrated and suggested the Arsenal team lost their spirit during the second half.
Laurent Koscielny was forced off due to an injury picked up soon after the break
Arsene Wenger admitted after the defeat that losing Laurent Koscielny was problematic for Arsenal
When you’re sitting on the bench in the second half, it’s difficult
“It’s difficult because during a game like this against a team like this, you need to play together, to have a good spirit and to push yourself for your team-mates,” Koscielny said.
“When you’re sitting on the bench in the second half, it’s difficult.
“In the first half we did the job and in the second half with their quality it was more difficult.”
The defender didn’t provide an update on his injury and is unlikely to feature at non-league Sutton United on Monday (7.55pm) in Arsenal’s FA Cup fifth round tie.
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