Laurent Koscielny Is The Toughest Defender I Have Faced - Odion Ighalo

Watford's all time Premier League highest goal scorer Odion Ighalo has stated that his toughest opposing defender in the league so far is Arsenal's Laurent Koscielny.

Arsenal claimed a 3-0 win at Watford when the teams clashed back in October last year and Ighalo remembers getting very little out of the game due to Koscielny’s presence.

"I think I have faced a lot of difficult defenders this season,” the Nigerian told reporters.

Laurent Koscielny Is The Best Defender In The Premier League - Rio Ferdinand

Various pundits have aired their opinions over Koscielny with most of them agreeing that his one of the very best defenders in the Premier League. Arsenal's fine season has also been as a result of improved solid defending. With Real Madrid watching him is probably the best in the EPL now and former United full back Rio Ferdinand has insisted that Laurent is the best in EPL.

Laurent Koscielny has developed into the best central defender in the Permier League, according to Rio Ferdinand.

The France international was at his commanding best alongside Per Mertesacker on Wednesday night as Arsenal secured a 3-0 win over Olympiacos that booked their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Bad Boy: English FA Suspends Diego Costa After Arsenal Clash

Chelsea's Spain forward Diego Costa was on Tuesday banned for three matches for raising his hands to the face of Arsenal centre-back Laurent Koscielny.

Costa was found guilty of violent conduct during Chelsea's 2-0 Premier League win over their London rivals on Saturday.

The 26-year-old former Atletico Madrid striker had denied the Football Association charge over the incident, which had been missed by referee Mike Dean.

Laurent Koscielny Extends Arsenal Contract

Arsenal have confirmed that defender Laurent Koscielny has signed a new long-term contract at the club.
In a press conference on Thursday, Arsene Wenger revealed he was close to tying his star centre-back to an extension, and the France international has now put pen to paper on a new deal.

Koscielny has made 48 appearances for Arsenal this season, cultivating a formidable partnership with Per Mertesacker and reportedly attracting the attentions of Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain.

"I am very proud to have reached agreement with the club on a new contract," he told the club's official website.

FRANCE FOOTBALL: Arsenal Close To Agreeing On Contract Extension For Laurent Koscielny

France Football report on Friday that Arsenal are close to agreeing a contract extension with defender Laurent Koscielny.

The Frenchman has been superb for the Gunners this season and in recent days has been linked in the French press with a big money move to the likes of Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Monaco.

Arsene Wenger met with Koscielny’s agent Stéphane Courbis on Thursday and the Gunners are set to confirm a contract extension. Koscielny’s current deal runs out at the end of the 2016/2017 season but both sides are keen to come to an agreement before the World Cup.

LIVERPOOL vs ARSENAL: Can Mertesacker & Koscielny Stop Suarez & Sturridge From Scoring At Anfield

Three months ago, an unstoppable force met an immovable object and the force was stopped. Arsenal remain one of the only four teams in the Premier League to have yet prevented both Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge from scoring against them.

Between them, Liverpool's 'SAS' have netted 37 top-flight goals so far this season but, facing off against the emerging partnership of Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny, were found wanting. But will it be a different story when the tables are turned and the Gunners are the visitors at Anfield on Saturday?