It is clear just how much Laurent Koscielny has grown as a player and a person during his seven seasons in north London.
The France defender has become one of the Premier League’s finest centre backs, while also showcasing his leadership skills by captaining the side in Per Mertesacker’s absence.
But for Koscielny, this might not have been possible were it not for Arsène Wenger’s influence.
“You may say that we haven’t won the title for a long time, but he has not just built players, he’s built men too,” Koscielny told Arsenal Player.
“Every player who has played for Arsenal has grown here and has become a man. It’s a big number [of players]. For me and the others, it’s a good opportunity to be with him and learn from him.
“He’s passionate about football. He loves football and he loves to watch his team play well with the ball. That’s why he’s here again after 20 years.
“Along with a lot of people, he’s helped this club grow with a new stadium, a new training ground, and he built the platform for us to compete for the Premier League and Champions League every year.”
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