Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Laurent Koscielny: Injury expert gives devastating verdict on stricken Arsenal star
ARSENAL star Laurent Koscielny could be facing up to EIGHT MONTHS on the sidelines after being stretched off against Atletico Madrid.
Koscielny goes down with an apparent ankle injury, Arsenal forced to use sub early #ATLvAFC #AtletiArsenal #UEL #AFC pic.twitter.com/F9lKdpsIyp
— Jonah Takalua (@Destaquito2) May 3, 2018
That’s the devastating verdict of injury expert Ben Dinnery, who believes the centre-back may have ruptured his Achilles tendon.
Koscielny started alongside Shkodran Mustafi in the heart of Arsenal’s defence with the task of keeping Diego Costa quiet.
But his night was over inside the first ten minutes after he collapsed to the floor totally unchallenged.
Koscielny had to be stretchered off and there are now serious doubts over whether he will be fit to play for France at this summer’s World Cup.
Dinnery, who works as an injury data analyst, has suggested the 32-year-old might not feature again until 2019 though.
"World Cup dreams over for Laurent Koscielny? Quite possibly…" he wrote on Twitter after Koscielny went down.
"I’m speculating it’s an Achilles rupture."
Asked if the injury could signal the end of Koscielny’s career, he added: "Typically 6-8 months.... If confirmed of course."
Injury expert Ben Dinnery offered his verdict on Laurent Koscielny going down versus Atletico Madrid
Laurent Koscielny suffers nasty ankle injury during France game
Laurent Koscielny was stretchered off during Arsenal's Europa League clash against Atletico Madrid
Koscielny has suffered with Achilles tendon problems for the past few years.
And he will be desperate to be back in action as soon as possible as he enters the twilight of his career.
Arsenal resume their Premier League campaign on Sunday when Burnley visit the Emirates.
And Calum Chambers, who replaced Koscielny tonight, could be in line to start against the Clarets.
Would you like to receive news notifications from Daily Express?