Laurent Koscielny Extends Contract With Arsenal Football Club: Nightly Soccer Report

French defender Laurent Koscielny has signed a new contract with Arsenal Football Club.

The news will come as a boost to Arsenal and manager Arsene Wenger. Koscielny joined the Gunners in 2010 from French club Lorient, and has become a popular and key part of the Arsenal defense, where he has formed an effective partnership with Per Mertesacker in the middle of the back four.

Koscielny said:

“I am very proud to have reached agreement with the club on a new contract.

“I have enjoyed four great years at Arsenal already and I look forward to continuing to help the team in the years to come.”

Here are today’s world soccer headlines:

Premier League

• Laurent Koscielny signs new contract to lift Arsène Wenger and Arsenal — The Guardian
• Sam Allardyce’s future at Upton Park looking increasingly fragile as club consider changes — The Telegraph
• Sir John Hall makes clear why Mike Ashley bought Newcastle United — NUFC Mag
• Kerry Dixon faces Chelsea sack following arrest on suspicion of dealing cocaine — The Mail
• Cardiff City Supporters Club and Supporters Trust unite to demand a return to blue — Wales Online
• Gus Poyet could leave Sunderland… even after keeping Black Cats in Premier League — The Mail
• Wenger wants UEFA to take a hard line with Financial Fair Play violators — Pro Soccer Talk
• Malky Mackay abandons claims against former club Cardiff City with apology to owner Vincent Tan — Telegraph
• Iain Moody follows Malky Mackay by apologising to Cardiff City owner Vincent Tan — Wales Online
• Stoke want Oussama Assaidi on permanent deal from Liverpool — The Mail
• Ashley Williams contract talks are first priority for Swansea City boss Garry Monk — Wales Online
• Felix Magath talks of his plans to bring Fulham back to the Premier League with academy players — 101GG
• Newcastle’s Cisse out for up to four months after knee op — Sunderland Echo
• Newcastle and West Ham heading to New Zealand this summer on preseason tour — Football Australia

US soccer

• Beckham plans to be involved owner in MLS, pushes back against site near Marlins Park — Sports Business Daily
• New York Cosmos confirm interest in former Real Madrid star Raul — ESPN FC

International soccer

• FIFA confirms USA-Belgium closed-door scrimmage on day of World Cup opener — Sports Illustrated
• South Korea pick three Barclays Premier League players for World Cup — Premier League
• England World Cup hopeful Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain looks set to be fit for the finals — The Mirror
• John Stones will get World Cup call if Phil Jones is ruled out by injury for England — The Mail
• This feels like Greg Dyke’s 39th game moment — The Independent
• FIFA to examine government intervention allegations in Egypt — King Fut
• New WatchESPN app now available free to download in the Amazon Appstore — Sports Video Group

La Liga

• Villarreal handed €12,000 fine for banana thrown at Barcelona and Brazil defender Dani Alves — The Mirror

Ligue Un

• Zinedine Zidane rejects Monaco and Bordeaux talk — ESPN FC

Bundesliga

• Torino striker Ciro Immobile wants to join Borussia Dortmund — The Guardian

Championship

• Class A drugs at Elland Road claims ex-boss David Haigh in spy camera ‘fraud’ probe — Yorkshire Post

The Nightly Soccer Report is tomorrow’s news today. It’s often tomorrow morning’s worldwide newspaper headlines that are published the night before. We do all the work for you, combing the Internet and aggregating the news for you. Read The Nightly Soccer Report on World Soccer Talk every night before bed, so you can stay on top of all the news that matters.