Arsenal have departed for their pre-season tour of America, but there was one noticeable absentee on the squad list, captain Laurent Koscielny.
Club statement on Laurent Koscielny
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) 11 July 2019
The Gunners announced via their official website that the 33-year-old defender had chosen not to travel with the team to the US for pre-season, adding more fuel to the fire that Koscielny will be heading out the exit door this summer after nine years at Arsenal.
The Mirror had previously reported that Koscielny had been offered a big-money offer from Bordeaux whilst Football London claim that the French defender is keen to leave Arsenal this summer for free.
Of course, this surprise statement and act from the Frenchman was met with a wide spectrum of reaction from Arsenal fans on social media, who were taken aback that the club captain would actively decline to go away on pre-season.
Here is how some fans reacted to the news…
We pick amazing captains, don’t we
— ً (@Sidenomenal) 11 July 2019
Sell him if he doesn’t want to be here
— Matteo (@BulletTackles) 11 July 2019
Disrespectful, shame our club captain has reacted like this and behaves like a kid. Goodbye @6_LKOSCIELNY
— Sam (@SK_arsenal) 11 July 2019
Make him pay the transfer fee and then he can go
— Spend Some Fkin Money FC (@wdwtoshit) 11 July 2019
Mustafi sat there like this knowing full well he’s playing every game pic.twitter.com/KnaKZTwve9
— Ollie (@ollie_nash22) 11 July 2019
The last guy I expected to turn out like this pic.twitter.com/YnUx3REYK4
— P™ | (was @cechque) (@SemperFiArsenal) 11 July 2019
Aren’t we supposed to be a class club. 33 and being offered no deal, got good offers from home. Let the man go home
— Arselove (@7dovesoflove) 11 July 2019
This is not how Arsenal was run, giving official statements on captain
— Nithin N (@Fabinthin04) 11 July 2019
Koscielny joined Arsenal from Lorient in 2010, making over 350 appearances for the Gunners (per Transfermarkt).
