Skilled French defender and Arsenal skipper Laurent Koscielny has been ruled out of the 2018 Fifa World Cup and is devastated at missing out, after undergoing surgery on a ruptured Achilles tendon, confirmed Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
Wenger told that the 32-year-old central defender is set to be sidelined for six months, bringing a heartbreak end to his international career as he had planned to retire after the event in Russia.
“Koscielny is devastated because he has had surgery,” Wenger said. “That means he will be out for six months. You will not see him before the end of December, or maybe the beginning of December at best. It’s certainly the final year he would play for the national team, but you never know. He now misses the World Cup, as well.
Koscielny, who has 51 caps for France, suffered an Achilles injury during the UEFA Europa League semi-final second leg match against Atlético Madrid On 3 May, 2018.
Wenger also ruled out the chances of midfielder Santi Cazorla playing in either of Arsenal’s last two Premier League games, at Leicester and Huddersfield. On the other hand, Mesut Ozil will miss the action with a back problem.
