Laurent Koscielny's decision to snub Arsenal’s US tour surprised many fans - but they weren’t the only ones.
The Gunners captain refused to join Unai Emery’s first team squad on their flight to America where they will play four games as they ramp up their preparations for the forthcoming campaign.
However, while the French centre-back left the club’s supporters dismayed, he also left his teammates aghast.
With the Gunners jetting off to Colorado for the first of their four pre-season matches across the Atlantic Koscielny astonished his colleagues by failing to get on the plane bound for the States last week.
A source exclusively told football.london of the reaction to the announcement within the club, saying: “None of the first team squad could believe it. They were all shocked.
“Everyone at the club couldn't believe their captain would do that - from [Mesut] Ozil all the way down to the academy lads boarding the plane for [their pre-season camp in] Slovakia.”
Koscielny has a year to run on his Arsenal deal and has been on the radar of Ligue 1 side Bordeaux, with Rennes also said to be interested.
The former Lorient defender has been with the north Londoners since 2010 with his existing deal worth £120k a week, but the ex-French centre-half, who earned 51 caps for Les Bleues, demanded a contract extension.
While the Gunners were happy to hand him a two-year deal, with money tight at the club, they offered him a far lower basic salary albeit with performance related bonuses and clauses.
Koscielny, who will be 34 in September, was not happy at the terms, knowing Bordeaux also offered him two years with the option of another 12 months on top - but with significantly more money.
The offer prompted the player to speak with Emery in a bid to force him to cancel his contract and allow him to return to his homeland.
However, with Arsenal failing to qualify for the riches of the Champions League after finishing fifth last season it means the club’s transfer budget being only around £40m - so every penny counts.
Therefore, the last thing Emery would wanted was further expense in having to replace Koscielny, and refused to allow him to leave.
Piqued, Koscielny then upped the stakes, by insisting he would not travel to the States - stunning not only the football world, but his teammates as well.
If, as expected, Koscielny's position at the club is untenable after his behaviour, Emery will have to scout a replacement - adding an additional cost to his already meagre transfer budget.
With doubts remaining over Shkodran Mustafi’s future at the club, in addition to fellow centre-back Rob Holding still on the road back to full fitness after a serious cruciate injury, Koscielny’s truculent response has given the head coach yet another headache in a summer to forget for all those associated with Arsenal.
While Arsenal face Colorado Rapids tomorrow [Tuesday] in the first match of their US tour, Emery will have to act fast to draft in a replacement for a player he hadn't envisaged leaving the club, as the first match of the Premier League season looms at Newcastle United on Sunday, August 11.
