While it appears as though the whole world is determined to stand up and show support and solidarity with the people of France after the horrors of the terrorist attacks on Paris last Friday, some Arsenal players were involved in the football friendly between France and England last night that brought the events into even sharper focus.
Perhaps the fact that the Belgium and Spain friendly was cancelled due to security fears and then the Germany v Holland game had to be called off at the last minute after a specific threat to the stadium meant that even more focus was on the game at Wembley and the tributes to the victims beforehand.
The Arsenal manager was in the crowd and our left back Kieran Gibbs started the game for the three lions but it was our players in the French team that spoke afterwards about how the events, the game and the tributes have affected them.
Laurent Koscielny was clearly affected and was pictured wiping away tears during the rousing rendition from both sets of fans of the French national anthem and while he struggled to really focus on the playing football part of the night, he was determined that the game needed to go ahead as explained in an Evening Standard report.
Koscielny said, “I know the English and they have great respect for the French. It showed last night. The English have experienced things in London and they know what it’s like to be bruised.
“We had to play. The decision was made on Saturday. We spent 48 hours together at Clairefontaine watching TV and being on the internet. We were just talking about the events and tried to evaluate these tragedies. We tried to clear our heads but Friday’s attack returned all the time. But it was important for us to play for those who have watched us and the victims.”
Another player clearly struggling to contain his emotions was the former Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna, who added, “Of course, I had tears in my eyes. I am touched like many people. I am French, and what concerns the French people also affects me. This will remain in our heads. Unfortunately, we cannot erase what has happened.
“We wanted to win to give a beautiful image. Even if it does not restore the smile, it was the least we could do to add our support.”
Olivier Giroud had hoped that France could have won the game to give the French people some small crumbs of joy in this difficult time, but he also knows that the symbolism of the game and the unity shown from the two rival nations was a lot more important and why the players were determined for it to go ahead.
He said, “We wanted to play this match for all the people who have stayed in Paris and to honour the families [of the victims]. It wasn’t easy for us. There were a lot of emotions after what has happened these last few days, illustrated by the minute’s silence and La Marseillaise.
“Everyone who played are professional players. Even if it wasn’t easy, we had to do our work on the pitch. Despite the circumstances we wanted to do our best to represent the country. We were proud to do it.
“We played against an effective English team and they caused us many problems. It wasn’t really us out there. This [defeat] is not the end of the world but we still wanted to win to make it even more of an honour.”
We can only hope that this gesture from the world of football can help in some way.
all european leagues should be postponed until next year to pay respect to people of french
No disrespect to the victims and families but this act of terrorism had nothing to do with football.
If the England v France game wasn’t abandoned then why should all the European league’s be postponed until next year?
I don’t want to go into politics as this is a football forum,
In the past we have seen plenty of tragedies inside football stadiums, especially in England, where hundreds of fan’s lost their lifes and there was no postponement to the league back then.
This is life mate, we can’t hide from it, it goes on with or without us.
May God bless all the victims throughout Earths history.
LK is a fine player & man. Respect to the French for turning up. My thoughts and prayers go to all that have suffered due the vile Isis scum. We stand together and hope one day this great game can bring peace to all ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? WORLD TOGETHER
Whoever put the thums down has no Wright to even be on this site so shame on you.
Whoever you are comment so we can all see you
Attacks were not football related so no need for postponement unless there a direct threat.
Honestly I dont get, I would not care if anything happens in my country and doez not affect me.
I don’t get why almost all in the media, big companies and people from the richer countries are united in solidarity only for France. It happens in other parts of the world, sometimes every day, and only now those aforementioned stand in solidarity. Unbelievable.
I feel sad that french did not win because it clearly had a touching moment before. Many countries have also lost the Africans,U.K,India,Singapore. Every country is pushed to show sympathy by the mean time another one gets affected. Football is a way people can forget thier daily life routine and watch a match of football without problems.
Its a shame for what happen to the people in France, my heart goes out to you, but i would like to point out this has been going on in other countries for years now and everyone else treats it like a morning greeting , we say morning then goodbye until another morning, not a conversation.
Its a shame the other countries do not get the same attention or responses like France, what hypocrisy.
Football can only be classified as one of the greatest sports ever and has been used to bring countries back together, therefore all i am hoping for is an arsenal game to bring back some sanity to this place