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Laurent Koscielny’s agent says his client wanted to leave Arsenal with Arsene Wenger this summer

David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
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The Arsenal ace suffered a long-term injury way back in May.

Laurent Koscielny of Arsenal is seriously injured during the UEFA Europa League Semi Final second leg match between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal FC at Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on May 3,...

Laurent Koscielny’s agent Stephane Courbis sat down for an exclusive interview with France Football, and suggested that his client wanted to leave Arsenal alongside Arsene Wenger at the end of last season, before rupturing his achilles against Atletico Madrid in May.

The 32-year-old joined the Gunners from Lorient in the summer of 2010, for a fee believed to be worth somewhere in the region of £10 million, and he has gone on to establish himself as somewhat of a legend at the Emirates, racking up 324 appearances in all competitions for the club.

Koscielny was signed by Wenger, and actually wanted to follow his fellow Frenchman out of the Emirates, before suffering his long-term injury in May.

That’s according to the Frenchman’s agent Stephane Courbis, who told France Football that his client was considering moves to France or even China:

Laurent Koscielny of Arsenal lies injured on the pitch during the UEFA Europa League Semi Final second leg match between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal FC at Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on...

“Laurent was perhaps playing the final matches of his Arsenal career. He started thinking about a possible departure from Arsenal at the same time as Arsene Wenger. It was the right moment, the final moment to leave with the arrival of the new manager. I had already anticipated this, with two or three offers that were starting to make us think. We were open to different options, China as much as France. He could not see himself playing for another English team other than Arsenal.”

Koscielny’s injury kept him out of France’s World Cup winning campaign, and obviously put an end to any hopes he had of leaving Arsenal this summer.

He is expected to return to first-team action in around three to four months.

Arsenal's French defender Laurent Koscielny eyes the ball during the UEFA Europa League semi-final second leg football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Arsenal FC at the Wanda...