End of an era: Arsenal star leaves club after nine years

Koscielny will depart the Gunners after nine years [Courtesy]

Laurent Koscielny has got his wish and has left Arsenal for Bordeaux.

The Gunners club captain refused to go on Arsenal's pre-season tour of the US this summer as he held out for a switch back to his native France, but a bitter standoff ensued when he was unable to make the move on a free transfer due to having a year left on his current deal at the Emirates Stadium.

Koscielny always insisted that he should be allowed to leave for nothing, and was backed up in his claims by his former Gunners teammate Olivier Giroud, but his conduct angered Arsenal officials and he was made to train with the club's under-23s.

The 33-year-old was so determined to earn his move that he was prepared to damage relations built up during nine years in north London, but Arsenal held firm over their insistence on getting a fee for him, and have now agreed a sum of around £4.6million to sell him to Bordeaux.

Emery is short of cover in defence [Courtesy]

Fellow Ligue 1 side Rennes were also interested in the centre-back, who played 353 times for the Gunners and won the FA Cup three times but has been dogged by injury in recent years.

An Achilles tendon injury ruled the former Lorient defender out of France's successful World Cup finals bid last summer, and he ultimately retired from international football having picked up 51 caps for his country.

The move leaves Unai Emery short of cover in defence, with the Gunners hoping to add to their centre-back ranks before the English transfer deadline on Thursday.

Right-back Carl Jenkinson is also set to be allowed to leave the club having played just 13 times for the Gunners in the last five years, with Championship side Nottingham Forest keen on signing the 27-year-old.