Laurent Koscielny Injury: Updates on Arsenal Star's Calf and Return

Laurent Koscielny limped from an Achilles problem directly into a calf setback as his injury disrupted 2014-15 campaign continues, but the Arsenal has since returned.

Continue for updates.

Sunday, Dec. 28

Koscielny Returns vs. West Ham 

Arsenal announced Koscielny's role for today's match:

Saturday, Dec. 27

Wenger Comments on Koscielny's Recovery

Arsene Wenger talked about Laurent Koscielny's status on Saturday, according to Arsenal's official website:

"

'[Laurent] Koscielny has a chance, he will have a test tomorrow,' said Wenger. 'He has a little chance.'

 

"

Tuesday, Dec. 23

Koscielny to Miss 1 More Game

Arsene Wenger is hopeful Koscielny will be available for the Dec. 28 trip to West Ham, but admits Arsenal's Boxing Day clash with QPR will come too soon:

Thursday, Dec. 18

No Koscielny Return at Liverpool

As expected, Arsene Wenger confirmed Koscielny's absence for Sunday's trip to Anfield, per the club's official website:

"

on Wilshere, Ozil, Koscielny, Ramsey and Arteta…
All out. They’re all progressing as planned.

"

Saturday, Dec. 13

Wenger Reveals Koscielny Timeline

Arsene Wenger talked about Koscielny's injury, according to Arsenal's official Twitter feed:

Friday, Dec. 12

Koscielny Absence Confirmed, Calf Strain Revealed

As expected, Arsene Wenger has confirmed Koscielny's calf injury will prevent him facing Newcastle on Saturday:

Thursday, Dec. 11

Koscielny to Miss Newcastle Game

Arsenal are facing an injury crisis against Newcastle on Saturday, as explained by Arsene Wenger to the club's official website:

"

Our main problems are still defensively because Laurent Koscielny (calf from Southampton match) looks like he will not be quite ready, Nacho Monreal (foot) is not back and Calum Chambers is suspended.

"

Saturday, Nov. 29

Koscielny Returns vs. West Brom

Arsenal's official Twitter feed reported an update on Koscielny's status on Saturday:

Friday, Nov. 28

Koscielny Fit to Face West Brom

Arsene Wenger has confirmed he can select Koscielny if he wishes to do so at the Hawthorns on Saturday:

Tuesday, Nov. 25

Koscielny Ready to Face Dortmund

Arsene Wenger revealed on Tuesday that Koscielny will come into his thinking for the visit of Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday:

Thursday, Nov. 20

Koscielny Looking at Another Three Weeks

Arsene Wenger has suggested it will be at least another three weeks before Koscielny can return to first-team action. He told Arsenal's official website:

"

Koscielny and Debuchy are doing well, they are out on the field [working] again. We have to see now. Usually field work is three weeks away from full group training. Then there is fitness. It looks straightforward for Debuchy. It's not inflammation, it's just repairing surgery. For Koscielny, it depends how well he responds to training. At the moment he looks good.

"

Thursday, Nov. 6

Wenger Eyeing Man United for Koscielny Return

Koscielny is aiming to return from his Achilles problem after the looming international break, which would place him in contention for the Nov. 22 clash with Manchester United.

Arsene Wenger told Arsenal's official website: "Koscielny has a little chance to be back after the international break."

Friday, Oct. 24

Arsenal Braced for Koscielny to Miss More Matches

Koscielny will not play again for Arsenal until after the next international break, at the earliest.

Arsene Wenger said, via Arsenal's official Twitter:

Friday, Oct. 17

Koscielny Facing Lengthy Spell on Sidelines

Arsene Wenger had delivered a concerning long-term prognosis on Koscielny's current Achilles problem.

Wenger admits it will take a significant amount of time to rid the defender of the injury completely, per Sami Mokbel of the Daily Mail:

"

It has got worse, he finds it difficult to play with at the moment.

If you wait for it to be better, it can be a short time. If you want to get rid of it completely, it is long term. We will monitor him and as soon as he can take enough pain again he will play.

"

Thursday, Oct. 16

Wenger Concerned by Koscielny Injury

Arsene Wenger had mixed news on the fitness of Laurent Koscielny after the French defender returned from international duty with an Achilles problem.

Arsenal's official Twitter posted:

Thursday, Oct. 9

Koscielny Withdraws From France Duty

Laurent Koscielny is set to return to Arsenal after dropping out of the France squad before matches against Portugal and Armenia with an Achilles injury.

The London Evening Standard highlighted a report from L'Equipe that puts a rather more serious slant on matters:

Arsene Wenger will certainly be hoping his influential centre-back recovers quickly. Arsenal have struggled with depleted defensive numbers throughout the season and cannot afford to have Koscielny's partnership with Per Mertesacker interrupted.

The French defender has made six Premier League and two Champions League appearances this season, scoring one goal in the former competition, per WhoScored.com. He conceded the penalty which led to Eden Hazard's opening goal during the recent 2-0 loss to Chelsea, but he remains a leader at the back for Wenger's side.

Arsenal are destined to have depleted numbers when the international break concludes. Wenger will be waiting anxiously for his remaining stars to return in good health.

Arsenal's ability to effectively traverse this period could define a season which may be ruined by the club's lack of strength in depth across the board.