Laurent Koscielny addresses Arsenal struggles after controversial summer exit

The former Gunners defender left the club in acrimonious circumstances over the summer to join Bordeaux and has had his say on his ex side's current troubles

Former Arsenal captain Laurent Koscielny thinks the Gunners must come together to overcome their nightmare spell as they look to end their dreadful recent form when they take on West Ham on Monday night.

Freddie Ljungberg's side are without a win in seven Premier League games and sit ten points off the Champions League qualification spots in 11th place.

Koscielny left the club to join Bordeaux in the summer and became an unpopular figure with supporters when he refused to go on the club's pre-season tour to the USA in order to force through his move.

But speaking to Canal Football Club Koscielny insisted he wishes his ex-club nothing but the best as they seek to bounce back from their recent disappointing performances, and also hailed the appointment of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as club captain.

"I am happy for him (Aubameyang) for being appointed captain at Arsenal ," Koscielny said. "I wish them the best, even though they are in a pretty tricky period.

"But there you have it, it is these moments where you see a team, a collective, ready to fight together to climb back up the pole!"

It has been reported that Koscielny sent Unai Emery a message of support when he was sacked as manager of Arsenal earlier this month, suggesting he still cares deeply about the club in spite of the way he left.

He added: "I can understand why (Arsenal fans didn't understand him leaving). Nobody anticipated m Arsenal departure. To keep it simple, I was not as happy as I was on the first day I signed.

And then with my family we needed to return home, to have a new challenge for us. To be able to become happy once again together, a return to France was the best solution."