Koscielny gunning to start for Arsenal

AS ARSENAL appear to be winning the fight to hold onto captain Cesc Fabregas next season, summer signing Laurent Koscielny cannot wait for the Barclays Premier League battle to begin.

Barcelona look to have, for now at least, admitted defeat in the bid to bring their former trainee back to the Nou Camp.

Andres Iniesta is the latest player to follow president Sandro Rosell and concede the Catalan club are unlikely to be able to secure a deal in time for the start of the new campaign.