Laurent Koscielny

August

Laurent missed the first two matches of the season with a calf injury.

September

Laurent made three appearances in September. The defender lashed in a late equaliser in Arsenal's draw away at Manchester City and started the next Premier League game against Chelsea.

October

Laurent played three times in October - all of them wins. After featuring in victories over Olympiacos and West Ham, the defender scored Arsenal’s third goal in the incredible 7-5 triumph against Reading in the Capital One Cup.

November

The only game that Laurent did not play a part in during November was the 2-1 defeat against Manchester United. The French international was part of the defence that kept clean sheets against both Montpellier and Aston Villa. “Life is strange. Maybe tomorrow I won’t be able to play because I am injured so I live every day at 100 per cent,” he said. “I am happy to be a professional footballer, to play in a big stadium with a big atmosphere against very good players. I can't say I am tired, that I don’t want to run and want to stay at home. It's not possible. I have a great passion for football and every time I am on the pitch I give 100 per cent.”

December

Laurent returned from a thigh injury to start the incredible 7-3 victory over Newcastle United at the end of the month.

January

Laurent started Arsenal’s first three games of the month, before being sent off against Manchester City. He came off the bench against West Ham United and also started in the FA Cup win over Brighton and Hove Albion.

February

Laurent missed only the away win at Sunderland in February. The defender had been due to start that game, but picked up an injury in the warm-up.

March

Laurent was named man of the match after coming into the team for the 2-0 win against Bayern Munich. The French defender’s header set up a tense finale in Germany, and he also started the victories over Swansea City and Reading.

April

Laurent had an impressive April, playing every minute of every game and setting up Per Mertesacker’s winner against Fulham. The defender’s good form saw him named runner-up behind Aaron Ramsey in Arsenal’s Player of the Month poll. “My English is better so I talk more on the pitch,” he told Arsenal Player. “We are defenders so we can see everything on the pitch. I think every player on the pitch talks for their team-mates because it's important - just to move two or three metres, we can stop a counter-attack.”

August

Laurent started all three Premier League matches during the month, as well as the team's 1-0 victory over Udinese at Emirates Stadium.

September

Laurent was first choice for Arsene Wenger alongside Per Mertesacker throughout the month until an ankle injury cut short his progress. He started in the league victories against Swansea and Bolton, as well as the Gunners' hard-earned draw in Dortmund.

October

Laurent's growing reputation in an Arsenal shirt continued after a fine month. The French centre-back's partnership with Per Mertesacker helped the team to Premier League victories against Sunderland, Stoke and Chelsea. Perhaps the finest moment of his month was a man of the match display in the Champions League victory at Marseille. “I feel I'm in the best form of my life,” he said. “I've improved a lot. I keep working on the basics, my controls and my passes. I'm also more rigorous."

November

Laurent enjoyed another fine month in an Arsenal shirt, demonstrating his versatility in the right-back position in the victories over Norwich and Borussia Dortmund. Arguably his finest showing came in the Carling Cup Quarter-Final defeat to Manchester City, although the night ended in defeat. "All the players changed their mentality and we have seen that we have a good team," he said. "All of the players defend and attack and for us that is very important."

December

Laurent continued to impress and was an ever-present throughout the month. He started in every one of Arsenal's Premier League fixtures over December. "I have had a bit of time now to be strong and get to know this league," he said. “Now I feel good on and off the pitch and I try to put the effort into being a good defender."

January

Laurent's season continued to go from strength to strength as he started in every one of the team's matches in all competitions. “I think I’ve learned at the very top,” he said. “This is the most difficult championship for a defender - there are a lot of strikers with different styles so it took me a year to learn and now I think I’m better."

February

Laurent remained a key figure in the Arsenal backline, missing only the FA Cup defeat to Sunderland through injury. The French international's consistency proved vital once more as he featured in the Premier League victories over Blackburn, Sunderland and Tottenham.

March

Laurent was a rock at the heart of defence, continuing his blossoming partnership with Thomas Vermaelen. The French international missed the win over Aston Villa with a minor knee injury but remained one of Arsenal's most consistent performers. "Vermaelen and Koscielny look solid and I think they have a good balance defensively and offensively," said Arsene Wenger. "They can both play with the ball as well and for us that is very important for the basis of our game. It starts at the back and they have the quality to do that as well."

April

Laurent enjoyed another impressive month for Arsenal, although he missed the games against Wolves and Wigan through suspension. "In the last couple of months we have played together a lot of times and I am pleased with that,” said Thomas Vermaelen. “He is a great player. I think we know each other's qualities so at the moment it is going well. He has done amazing this season."

May

Laurent scored the crucial winning goal against West Brom to help Arsenal guarantee their place in next season's Champions League. The centre back started both games against Norwich and the Baggies. "If I score with my left foot, right foot or with my head, the most important thing is that it's a goal and it was for the team," he said. "This goal was important and I am very happy for the fans, the team and the boss because we have all worked hard to be here."

August

Laurent made his Arsenal debut against Liverpool in the Gunners' first match of the Premier League season. However, he was sent off at the end of the game after picking up two yellow cards. He returned to the starting XI for the 2-1 win over Blackburn.

October

Laurent’s October was disrupted with a back problem that kept him out of three games during the middle of the month. He played against Chelsea and then didn’t feature until returning for the 4-0 Carling Cup win over Newcastle on October 24. He was part of an all-French back four that kept a clean sheet against West Ham in the final game of the month.

September

Laurent played an important role during the month of September as he formed a partnership with Sebastien Squillaci at the heart of the Arsenal defence. The pair impressed and Laurent was selected as one of the more experienced players for the Carling Cup victory over Tottenham. The summer signing scored his first goal for the Club when he bundled home Arsenal’s opening goal of the month against Bolton.

November

Laurent’s month didn’t get off to the best of starts when he was sent off during the closing stages of the 1-0 defeat to Newcastle on November 7. He subsequently missed Premier League wins over Wolves and Everton before returning for the 3-2 defeat against Spurs. He was an unused substitute for the 2-0 loss in Braga though partnered Sebastien Squillaci for the 4-2 win at Aston Villa.

December

Laurent was ever-present during December as he continued to adapt to the physical nature of the English game. The defender’s month didn’t get off to the best of starts when he was stretchered off against Fulham after clashing heads with team-mate Sebastien Squillaci as the away side equalised. However, he returned for the Champions League game against Partizan and played the final three games of the year.

January

Laurent played an incredible 720 minutes of football in January. He completed eight of Arsenal’s nine games and helped Arsène Wenger’s side to five clean sheets. At the other end of the pitch, he scored a crucial header against Ipswich Town to help Arsenal reach the Carling Cup Final.

February

Laurent’s month started in spectacular fashion when he headed a late winner against Everton after Louis Saha’s controversial opener threatened to halt Arsenal’s title challenge. But February ended in heartache for the central defender, who was involved in a mix-up with Wojciech Szczesny that gifted Birmingham the Carling Cup.

March

Laurent continued to play a vital role in central defence, making four starts during the month of March.

April

Laurent was ever-present during April, making five starts at the heart of the Arsenal defence.

May

Laurent started against both Manchester United and Stoke before a thigh injury ended his season prematurely.