Limping linchpin: Koscielny’s path from injury hell to Arsenal inspiration

Defender’s World Cup dream was shattered by injury. Now Laurent Koscielny is set for a Europa League final against Chelsea but the road back was tough

The snatches of thoughts that flashed through his mind in a moment of crisis were like a brutal cinematic scene. A little over a year ago, Laurent Koscielny lay on the pitch at Atlético Madrid’s Wanda Metropolitano one hand balled into a tight fist thumping the ground in unbearable frustration, the other clasped to his ankle.

His mind whirred back to a conversation with Francis Coquelin, who had just been through a rupture in the place where he felt overwhelming pain. “Like a knife cutting your achilles.” That was the feeling. “The pain, from one to 10, it’s an 11.” There had been no impact. His body just gave way all by itself.

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from Football | The Guardian http://bit.ly/2JEdKQt