Koscielny faces daily treatment on Achilles injury for rest of career

Laurent Koscielny says he must report to medical staff every day for the remainder of his career for treatment on his lingering Achilles injury.

The Arsenal defender, 31, was diagnosed with chronic tendinitis in both feet while with the France national team camp in October 2014, but a subsequent eight-match layoff has since seen him feature regularly at centre-half in the last three campaigns.

But the Achilles problem won't go away, with Koscielny's latest setback coming when he had to be withdrawn in April's 2-2 draw against Manchester City. His lack of availability for Tuesday's meeting with Sunderland isn't related, though, with his issue instead down to calf tightness.

"I have some problems," Koscielny admitted to The Evening Standard's James Olley. "Now it is better. I know it is a difficult injury because you need to work every day on this. Every morning I have my treatment for my Achilles and I know I need to do this to the end of my career."

He added: "It is not difficult but you need to be careful with this because if you stop doing your own exercise programme for one or two weeks, the problem will come back. I know now I need to do this every day to be fit for my team."

Koscielny partnered Shkodran Mustafi and Rob Holding in Arsene Wenger's new-look back-three for Arsenal's 4-1 win at Stoke City on Saturday, and his likely replacement for Tuesday's visit from the Black Cats will be Gabriel Paulista.