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'Instinct crucial for FA Cup final goal'

Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny
Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny

Laurent Koscielny says he relied purely on instinct to equalise against Hull City in last season’s FA Cup final.

Arsenal were trailing 2-1 with 18 minutes remaining at Wembley when the France international reacted quickly to bundle the ball over the line from a Santi Cazorla corner.

Koscielny says the goal is a direct result of learning how important it is to “sense a situation” from attacking set-pieces.

"I smelled that I could get the ball, so I just turned near the six-yard box and I waited"

Laurent Koscielny

“I smelled that I could get the ball, so I just turned near the six-yard box and I waited,” he told the official matchday programme. “The ball came, and I turned and kicked it towards goal.

“I’ve scored a few like that, not just headers like most defenders score. I got one at Newcastle a couple of seasons ago, and also a few at my old clubs Tours and Lorient.

“On free-kicks and corners you need to react. It's about sensing a situation like a striker. Sometimes you train to make this run or that run, but when you are there you might feel the run isn't great and then suddenly the ball is with you.”

 

 

Laurent Koscielny scores in the FA Cup final

Laurent Koscielny scores in the FA Cup final

 

 

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