Laurent Koscielny Says Arsenal Have a 'Mental Problem' Against Big Teams

Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny has admitted that the Gunners have a "mental problem" when facing the biggest teams.

The France international was substituted during Arsenal's 5-1 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League round-of-16 first leg on Feb. 15 while the score was level, but his absence seemingly triggered a collapse among his team-mates. Alongside this, the Gunners have only won once against the Premier League's top seven this season.

Koscielny has acknowledged that Arsenal lack something crucial when up against the top sides.

"We have up and down results. It's a mental problem," he told RMC (h/t Ian Holyman for ESPN FC). "We have the technical and physical qualities. We have to make an effort for the whole game.

Matthias Schrader/Associated Press

"Against big teams you need more than talent. It takes more commitment, helping your team-mates to defend. You have to find other reserves."

The 31-year-old even went so far as to question the "determination" of his team, something that is unlikely to go down well with manager Arsene Wenger.

"In certain games, we lacked the knack, determination in challenges," he said. "We're in a difficult situation and we have to stick together. We have to hate losing."

Wenger's future has come under increasing scrutiny since the 5-1 defeat to Bayern, as highlighted by the comments of two former Arsenal stars in punditry work for BT Sport and ITV, per BBC Sport. However, the 67-year-old recently gave a strong indication that he could stay on for several more years, per Paul Doyle for the Observer.

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Bar a remarkable comeback at the Emirates Stadium, this will be the seventh consecutive season in which Arsenal have been knocked out of the Champions League at the second-round stage. Hearing that Koscielny does not believe Arsenal "hate losing" is unlikely to impress supporters.

However, the central defender did not criticise his manager, and he expressed his desire for Wenger to extend his contract at the club, which runs out this summer.

"The coach is there to prepare the players physically, tactically and organise things on the pitch," Koscielny said, per Holyman. "After that, it's up to the players to do what is needed on the pitch to win games. I'd like [Wenger] to extend his contract. I've played for seven years under him and I have huge respect for him. I owe him a lot for my career."

Alastair Grant/Associated Press

Arsenal, who face Lincoln City in the FA Cup sixth round on March 11 and are still fighting for a top-four finish in the Premier League, will be relying on Koscielny to improve the mental toughness in the squad over the final three months of the season.

They are unlikely to end 2016-17 on a high unless that "mental problem" disappears.