Koscielny ‘deeply affected’ by Paris attacks, says Wenger

Arsène Wenger will talk to Laurent Koscielny before Arsenal’s trip to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday to assess whether the France player, who was so visibly affected by the atrocities in Paris when he returned to playing in France’s friendly against England at Wembley, feels able to return to the Premier League with full focus.

The Arsenal manager said: “He had a fantastic game against Germany. And you could see that on Tuesday night he was not himself. It affected him deeply and I didn’t recognise the player I saw on Tuesday night.

“I will talk with him. I have not talked to him yet, but I will talk to him to see if he is completely recovered and focused. It’s a big game for us. You have to trust the player in these kind of situations.

“Today in the Premier League you don’t get away with it with 80 per cent focus. You have to be completely committed. What I will want from him is that he’s completely committed and feels ready. If not, I will not play him.”

‘Huge shock’

Wenger was also in Paris in Friday night, and outlined his sense of “huge shock” about the terrorist attacks. He had been due to attend France’s friendly against Germany at the Stade de France but as he was running late decided to watch the match on television from his hotel.

“In the end in the hotel we were quite secure, but the streets were empty, completely empty. I was not far from the event and I think everybody who was in Paris on Friday night was in shock.

“France is, like England, a tolerant and generous country and to discover how much your own citizens hate you and hate the country is of course a huge shock for everybody. You wonder what is going on there. Why does this country get this kind of treatment?

“I believe at the moment nobody in France has found an answer or a real explanation for what’s going on and why, because what was targeted was the way of life, basically. Football, going out, listening to music. It’s more way of life that is targeted than any individual community.

“I was more under shock than fearful, because you could be scared of what was going on because it was four different places attacked in the centre of Paris, so you don’t feel secure anywhere.”

Wenger praised the way football had united behind his country, as England fans joined in with the singing of the French anthem at Wembley.

"It is a nice gesture of solidarity," he said. "It is not an obvious one for the fans – just like it would not be an obvious one for fans in France to sing God Save the Queen – so symbolically it is a very nice gesture. It was fantastic for France and it showed the class of England to see the arch of Wembley in French colours.

‘Great solidarity’

“I would like to thank the English community and English football who have shown great solidarity. It was a huge shock for our country and our football.

“You always think after this kind of event, do you continue to play or do you stop your life? For me they made the right decision and the event on Tuesday night has shown it was the right decision. The football world has responded the way you want it to respond in a big union and togetherness.”

Wenger expressed concerns that the terror attacks could “create some tensions which could damage a tolerant and multicultural society”.

There has already been debate about whether the Euro 2016 tournament in France should go ahead as planned next summer.

Wenger said: “I feel the country can provide. One of the good things out of what happened now is that the security level will be raised and maybe the Euro 2016 will be more secure.” – (Guardian service)