Just like a bottle of good French wine the Arsenal and France defender Laurent Koscielny seems to be getting better with every year that passes and at 30-years of age the centre back has plenty of years left at the peak of his playing career, so obviously Arsenal fans are hoping that he will spend them as a Gunner.
There has been a growing amount of transfer interest in the Frenchman in recent years though, with the German Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich the latest European giant linked with him in Arsenal transfer rumours. Those rumours soon died away though and perhaps the reason for that can be found in the words of Koscielny on the official Arsenal website this week.
The player that Arsene Wenger brought to the bright lights of the Premier League as a 24-year old had spent his early career in the lower leagues of French football but has now proved himself to be one of the best in the business, so it is no wonder that he is in demand. But despite previously talking about the need for major trophy success to keep him happy, Koscielny now sounds like he is happy and settled at Arsenal and his family and his new role as a father clearly plays a big part in that.
He said, “It is a different life but I enjoy it because my kids are amazing. I’m happy to be at home and prepare with them. Sometimes in life there are some difficult situations, but that is life. It is like this, you can have some good moments and some bad moments.
“It is difficult because when you play every three days, you go away and you don’t spend a lot of time at home. Sometimes when you are tired you don’t want to do a lot at home.
“When we have a bad result it is difficult. I don’t talk a lot. When you arrive at home, you need to leave your bad result, your bad things and your bad session outside your house to come in and be happy.
“I think when I have a bad result, [my kids] are there to give me a smile because they are amazing. When you have a bad moment, you have your family and kids to help you be stronger and forget the bad result and be happy.
“Everything I do between now and the future will be for my children. I don’t stop living my life, but I will live for my children. They will have the best life. They speak English so it will be better for them in their future. I want the best things for them.”
But will Koscielny ever get a Premier League winners medal to go with his happy family life?
Bob