Arsenal manager Unai Emery has expressed his delight at seeing Laurent Koscielny return to the pitch after recovering from a serious injury.
The centre-back suffered an Achilles tendon injury towards the end of last season and only returned to the bench against Huddersfield last weekend.
The Arsenal captain made his way into the team against Qarabag on Thursday night and completed the full 90 minutes as the Gunners won 1-0 in their last Europa League group game.
The return of the Frenchman has boosted Emery’s options at the back and the Arsenal manager admits that it is great news that the defender is again fit to play for the team.
The Spaniard indicated that he does not want Koscielny to do too much too soon and believes the Frenchman will go through a process in order to get him back to his peak fitness.
Emery said in a press conference: “When a player comes back like Koscielny, after a big injury. A very big injury, it can give the player different moments.
“I think for Koscielny it’s good that he’s recovered and I also think he recovered in a good time from his big injury. When he comes back like today with us, every supporter of Arsenal is happy, and also the player.
“Then this process with him is to take confidence again, take rhythm for playing matches like today. We are going to continue this process maybe on Sunday.
“I want to wait tomorrow and Saturday for how he will feel after this match, for if he will play or not on Sunday.”
Arsenal will visit the south coast on Sunday when they will face Southampton at St. Mary’s Stadium.
