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'Mind-numbingly stupid'

Ian Wright blasts Arsenal captain Laurent Koscielny for red card which rules him out of FA Cup final

IAN WRIGHT has blasted Arsenal skipper Laurent Koscielny for getting himself banned before the FA Cup final.

The Gunners face Chelsea without their star defender after he failed his appeal over a reckless lunge on Everton's Enner Valencia.

 Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny will miss Saturday's FA Cup final against Chelsea after he was handed a three-match suspension
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Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny will miss Saturday's FA Cup final against Chelsea after he was handed a three-match suspensionCredit: AP:Associated Press

And Wrighty fumed at the poor decision, which he feels could cost his former club the game.


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He told The Sun Football Podcast: "I missed the Cup Winner’s Cup final through too many bookings, it wasn’t a ridiculous sending off like his.

"For the captain, it was absolutely mind-numbingly stupid. It will really hit home for him if Arsenal lose.

"The build-up is so exciting and you know you’re not going to be involved. When you win, it’s fine.

"But all the time leading up to it, you do feel like you’re letting them down. Our best defender is out of the game."

Arsenal have been susceptible to crumbling defensively without Koscielny this season - especially in the Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich.

Crocked Gabriel will also be missing at Wembley - leaving Arsene Wenger with a defensive crisis on his hands.

 Koscielny saw red for this lunge on Enner Valencia
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Koscielny saw red for this lunge on Enner ValenciaCredit: AP:Associated Press
 Arsenal failed in their appeal against skipper Koscielny's suspension
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Arsenal failed in their appeal against skipper Koscielny's suspensionCredit: Getty Images

To make matters worse, Shkodran Mustafi is also a doubt after the German suffered a blow to the head in the win against Sunderland.

Strict rules around players returning from head injuries mean the club’s medical department must clear him to play.

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