---
title: "Koscielny – UEFA Champions League has made me better"
canonical: "https://readarsenal.com/2015/09/09/koscielny-uefa-champions-league-made-better/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Adam Hamdani"
section: "Arsenal News"
published: "2015-09-09T21:52:13Z"
modified: "2015-09-09T21:52:13Z"
---

# Koscielny – UEFA Champions League has made me better

Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny has claimed that he feels like a young man, despite turning 30-years-old on the Thursday – an age regarded as ‘old’ or ‘experienced’ in the footballing world.

Since joining the Gunners in 2010, the France international has gone on to make over [200 appearances for the club](https://www.arsenal.com/first-team/players/laurent-koscielny) – establishing himself as comfortably one of the best defenders the Premier League has seen in a number of years, with his pace and reading of the game particular plus points.

Koscielny, formerly of Lorient, admitted to *[Arsenal Player](https://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20150909/koscielny-i-feel-like-a-young-man)* that despite turning 30, he feels ‘like a young man’ and uses the examples set by both Petr Cech and Mikel Arteta to help himself continue working hard.

> *Footballer or not, after 30 is a big part of your life.**For a footballer it is important as you are closer to the end of your career than you are to the start.*
>
> *But, I feel like a young man.*
>
> *I’m nearly 30 but my body is ready to play more games, just the age has changed.*
>
> *I try to work hard and to be ready for training and the games and when you are older you need to work harder in training before the session and after.*
>
> *I can see the older players like Petr Cech or Mikel Arteta before and after training and it can help \[extend\] your career \[to work hard like them\].*

![Jamie McDonald/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readarsenal.com/readarsenal/2015/09/482756090.jpg)

Koscielny went on to explain that playing against top opposition in the elite competitions such as the UEFA Champions League and Premier League have helped to make him into a better and more experienced footballer.

> *I think it is true because you have played a lot of games before and you are more experienced.*
>
> *When you play in the Premier League against a lot of big teams and in the Champions League every game can help you to be better.*