“It’s not a break” – Emery offers injury update after Arsenal star limps off vs BATE

Unai Emery has offered a positive injury update on Laurent Koscielny after he limped off during Arsenal’s 3-0 victory over BATE Borisov on Thursday night.

Koscielny started alongside Shkodran Mustafi in the middle of a back four during our Europa League last-32 second leg victory over the Belarusian champions at the Emirates Stadium.

The Frenchman was enjoying a comfortable night’s work but gave us an injury scare after being forced off during the early stages of the second half and had to be replaced by Sokratis in the 54th minute.

Arsenal’s physio was seen assessing Koscielny’s ankle on the bench, which sparked fears the 33-year-old had aggravated the ruptured Achilles injury that kept him out for several months last year.

However, speaking to the media after the game last night, Emery confirmed the injury isn’t serious and that Koscielny was taken off as a precaution after feeling minor discomfort in his muscle.

The Arsenal boss suggested that the injury may have developed in to something more serious had the centre-back carried on playing last night but they are hoping Koscielny will be available for Sunday’s visit of Southampton to north London.

Emery told Arsenal.com:

on Koscielny…
I think it’s precaution and we are going to wait for tomorrow. But, I hope he will be okay for Sunday and for the next week. It’s muscular, it’s not a break. But it was only precaution because he was starting to feel not good.

on whether it’s his achilles…
I think it’s not broken. I think it’s only a precaution because he didn’t feel good and with the possibility that maybe if he carried on in the match, it could break.

We’ll have to wait for Koscielny to be further assessed today before the full extent of the injury is known but it doesn’t sound serious so hopefully he’ll be available for the Southampton clash at the Emirates on Sunday.

Sokratis is ready to come in if Koscielny is ruled out and the Greek international looked in fine form last night as he headed home the third goal against BATE to secure our place in the last-16 of the Europa League.