The inside story behind Laurent Koscielny STRIKE
EXCLUSIVE: Laurent Koscielny is facing disciplinary action and being stripped of club captaincy after refusing to team up for the US tour.
The 33-year-old Frenchman is now facing disciplinary action and being stripped of the captaincy after refusing to show up and travel with the rest of the Arsenal squad to the United States for pre-season tour.
Meanwhile, according to Mirror Sport, the background to the fall-out is that Koscielny has received three years contract offer from Bordeaux and is also annoy at what he sees as being made to take a “substantial” pay cut by Arsenal.
The France international has one year left on his current £120,000 wages deal, wanted an extension and had held discussions with the club board about getting an extra 12 months.
Arsenal were willing to offer him a new two year deal but was offered a lower basic salary (because of his injury record) which included performance-related pay based on appearances with the option for a free transfer next summer.
The club also insist Koscielny could have ended up earning more with the extension than on his current contract with bonuses especially if Arsenal had got back into the Champions League.
But Koscielny rejected the deal, has been left fuming and believes Arsenal should allow him to leave for free now to take up the opportunity to return home with Bordeaux offering a three year contract and that is why he is furious with Arsenal.
It was gathered that the row has been brewing for some weeks. On Monday, the issue escalated when Koscielny showed up and made it clear he did not want to train.
However, Koscielny ended up training this week but Arsenal feared the stand-off was coming on Wednesday and the defender reported yesterday but said he did not want to go to the United States.
A way back for Koscielny is not feasible, even with the background to the flare-up, fans are not likely to forgive his actions as he was under contract and as the club captain, he supposed to be setting an example.
Arsenal are not willing to grant the defender a free transfer and are now making him train with the under-23s while the club are in the United States. Koscielny is set to face more action including a club fine while Granit Xhaka is favourite to get the captain armband.
Arsenal took the unusual decision of issuing a statement to go on the front foot and it reads: "We are very disappointed by Laurent's actions, which are against our clear instructions. We hope to resolve this matter and will not be providing any further comment at this time.”
It is a major headache for Arsenal who are presently short in Koscielny’s position and now their captain seems certain to leave after nine years at the club.
Reportedly, Arsenal have already signed St Etienne youngster William Saliba but head back on loan for next season and Rob Holding could miss the start of the season due to a knee injury.
Prior to the Koscielny row, they already wanted another senior centre back and this can only intensify the search. However, it could also present the chance for Konstantinos Mavropanos or Calum Chambers to step up. The Arsenal way!!!
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