“He likes his duels": Koscielny backs partner Gabriel after Mertesacker axe

Laurent Koscielny has urged Arsenal to kick on from their vital win at Bournemouth and put themselves firmly back into the Barclays Premier League title picture.

Having been top of the table at the turn of the year, Arsene Wenger’s men slipped to fourth following a four-game winless streak before securing a 2-0 victory against the Cherries on Sunday afternoon.

The Gunners had gone almost five and a half hours without a league goal before Mesut Ozil and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain struck 88 seconds apart at the midway point of the first-half at the Vitality Stadium.