The Frenchman returned for Arsenal at Leicester this weekend
Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny has backed the Gunners to challenge for the title this season, after finishing second to Leicester City last campaign.
The Foxes extended Arsenal’s stuttering start to the campaign on Saturday, as they held Arsene Wenger’s men to a goalless draw at the King Power Stadium. But upon his return to the side, Koscielny is looking at the positives for the season ahead.
After an extended break, following his European Championship exploits with France – which saw Les Bleus reach the final – Koscielny returned to the Gunners’ starting XI which stood firm to keep the likes of Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez quiet.
However, it didn’t stop a chorus of boos for Wenger, who has been urged by Arsenal fans to spend big this transfer window, in order to compete with the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea.
But Koscielny has urged fans to be patient, and insists his side will, again, compete for the title this campaign, despite finishing 10 points short of Leicester, last season.
“We are Arsenal – we fight for the title. Every game we play we want to win the game,” said Koscielny.
“This season will be very difficult because of the top clubs spending a lot of money on transfers, it’s unbelievable. But sometimes the collective can be better than individual players. So we want to keep our philosophy and play football.”
But the 30-year-old’s defence of his compatriot’s lack of spending in the transfer market will not have sat well with Arsenal fans, who have seen their side continuously linked with Valencia’s 24-year-old Germany international Shkodran Mustafi this summer, without any conclusion of a deal.
Arsenal youngster Rob Holding has started the north London club’s first two games of the season, as the club’s defensive crisis goes on. However, Wenger has just a week and a half to conclude his transfer business, as the fans’ anger mounts.
