Layth Yousif
Layth Yousif represented The Gooner at a recent ‘Club Day’ back in August and got to ask Mikel Arteta, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Laurent Koscielny a few questions, a selection of which are in the current issue of The Gooner. We are running the rest on the website during the international break. Today, we have the questions asked of Laurent Koscielny.
You love playing the accordion, is that right?
No no, I saved an accordion factory in my town because it was nearly a century old. Together with other people we tried to save the factory and put some money in to help and rebuild everything in the factory to save because it was important and it was in my city. It was very important for me to save it.
What was the deciding factor when you joined Arsenal?
It was simple. I came from a small team in France and it was my first season in Division 1 in France when I had the opportunity to sign for a big club. I always knew about Arsenal. For the French people Arsenal is a big club. I said ok I need to go and I want to go. The chairman in France, Florian, the coach, they knew my situation and they helped me to find a solution to come here.
How have the years been? You came here practically unknown and now you are one of the best defenders in the Premier League. How has that been for you?
When I arrived here, I did not know what would happen with me, if I would play a lot of games. In my first season, I played more than 35 games I think. I think I have improved myself every year, I’ve progressed in terms of heading, my position on the pitch, physically, technically, because the boss loves football. We need to play football, we start from the back so we need to have some defenders who can play football. So it was very important to progress on this and mentally because it is very hard to stay at a high level. Every weekend you play some games, you think it’s an easy game but every weekend it’s hard, it’s physical. You don’t have an easy game. When you play against Stoke for example, you have a hard game. You have different styles against your opponents but you have to be ready and I think mentally I have progressed in this. We talk about mentally but I think it’s a big part of the success for the player.
How has the start of the season been for you?
I think it’s good to have a slap in your face at the beginning of the season. I think we played well the last six months of the last season. We had a good pre-season, with a good win against Chelsea at the Community Shield and I think maybe we kept our quality. We thought we could keep this up and we would start easily but in England, it’s never like this. Every game is hard to win and we saw that against West Ham, we didn’t play well and in the end we lost the game. We needed to put some things right and I think we did at Crystal Palace. The first half was good because we played with quality and I think we could have gone into the dressing room at half-time with 3-0 but it was 1-1. In the second half we scored a lucky goal and the last 15 minutes was hard. It was almost a draw. It was the same last year if you remember, we won 2-1 and it was a big fight the last 10 minutes. So we need to go back to our basics and to how we finished last season. We can win a lot of games and the most important is to win a few games in a row because then you can maintain a high level.
Who is the most difficult player you have played against?
I think, I’ve said a lot of times, [Didier] Drogba because he is very strong and can keep the ball in front. He’s good technically and I think a lot of defenders have a lot of problems with him.
What are the biggest differences between English and French football?
Everything I think. In England, it’s a religion. The stadiums are amazing and the atmosphere is incredible. You can go to Anfield, Man United, Stoke City and they have a big atmosphere. You see the fans with their shirts. In France it’s very different. It’s most of a ‘spectacle’. People are going to watch a game, it’s more that they want to see some very nice football but it’s not supporters but in France you have some good players. You have PSG who are a big team with a lot of world class players and I think it’s better and better this season. You have teams like Lyon and Monaco who are good teams and qualify for the Champions League. There are some good players but not like in England.
What was your best moment at Arsenal?
For me it was the first FA Cup because it was the first trophy for a long time and because the game was very hard. Winning after going 2-0 down showed we have the mentality and the players to do special things. When the game was finished, it was an incredible moment with the players, with the staff and with the fans.
Follow Layth on Twitter@laythy29. Layth is the author of Arsene Wenger: 50 Defining Fixtures.
