'Arsenal sold Lacazette' - Laurent Koscielny 'signs' new striker during hospital visit

Giving back: Arsenal stars visit patients at the Teenage Cancer Trust Unit at University College London
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Jessica Morgan7 December 2017

Laurent Koscielny cheekily negotiated a deal to bring a new 'striker' to Arsenal ahead of the January window as the squad paid a visit to a London hospital.

Koscielny was visiting the Teenage Cancer Trust Unit at University College Hospital on Tuesday and was joined by teammates, including Olivier Giroud and Mesut Ozil.

And while there the 32-year-old centre-back talked one of the nurses into joining the Gunners attack.

When quizzed what position she played in, she told Arsenal's official website she was a striker before Koscielny quipped: "We sold Lacazette,"

The puzzled nurse responded: "What does that mean?"

Wenger's star players took a break from football following the 3-1 defeat to Manchester United by visiting various hospitals across London where they were pictured gifting Christmas presents to patients and playing games, including snooker and table football, with children on the ward.

Alexis Sanchez, Granit Xhaka and Per Mertsacker visited Whittington Hospital, alongside Arsenal Women's stars Heather O'Reilly and Alex Scott.

The Gunners are preparing for the Europa League clash against BATE Borisov at the Emirates on Thursday night.

Though Arsenal have already progressed to the round of 32 as group winners, the European clash will offer the club's fringe players a chance to stake their claim.