Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted that key defender Laurent Koscielny is a doubt for the side’s Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night.
The France international starred in the Gunners’ 2-1 win over Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday but picked up a facial injury after a coming together in the box.
Koscielny was kicked in the face during the win over Claude Puel’s men and as a result has a swollen cheekbone.
With Arsenal clashing with PSG at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday night, the experienced centre-half faces a race against time to feature against Unai Emery’s men in the Group A clash.
Wenger has sung the praises of his defender and admitted that the Frenchman was vitally important to the Emirates Stadium side’s chances of winning major silverware in 2016-17.
“It is a little concern, it’s already very swollen,” Wenger told The Guardian.
“He is one of the most experienced players we have here now.
“He is one of the longest-serving defenders and I think he is one of our best players. When I think about the squad, when you choose a captain as well, you think of one with a good chance to play in every single game and that’s not easy nowadays.
“He has committed to the club for a long contract and he has always improved every year. Today he is an outstanding centre-back.”
Koscielny’s partnership with new man Shkodran Mustafi may well be Arsenal’s first-choice pairing at centre-half this season.