London, July 25: French defender Laurent Koscielny has reiterated his loyalty towards Arsenal after his revelation that he has no desire to leave the club this summer amid reported interest from Marseille.

All leagues special site

The 31-year-old has been with the North London club for the last seven years and has registered his name as one of the toughest defenders in the English Premier League since moving to the Emirates in the summer of 2010 from French club Lorient.

Koscielny signed a long-term contract extension last season which tied him to Arsenal until 2020, however, there were reports emerging that French side Olympique Marseille could lure the defender back to France.

But in a recent interview with Arsenal, the defender has denied all the speculation and stated that he loves the club where his wife and family are happily settled and he's not seeking a quick exit, pledging his loyalty to the club.

"When I first got here, I didn't think about how long I would stay at this club, but now I am starting my eighth season so I am very happy with this," Koscielny told the club's official website.

"I have a long contract with Arsenal and I have [no reason] to leave the club."

"I am just here to enjoy my job and give everything for the team, and get the best results for the club. If I can do all of that, then I am happy."

The Defender has also cited the respect he has for the Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger and reiterated that since his move to the Premier League from Lorient, the French manager has helped him a lot in his development on field and contributed to his growth to be a better person off the pitch as well.

"Arsene Wenger is a big [inspiration] for me. He bought me from France and has given me everything to help me play for Arsenal, and has helped me as a man too," he said.

"I have a big [loyalty] to this club and to the boss too."

"I have stayed here for seven years and I have learnt a lot from him, so I am happy to be here with him and to fight for him because he is a great person."

Koscielny is currently recovering from a back injury but is expected to be fit for their Community shield match against Chelsea on 6th August, which is just two weeks away.

OneIndia News