By Daily Sports on February 17, 2016

Few defenders have managed to keep Odion Ighalo quiet during the Nigerian international's impressive first season in the Premier League.

However Laurent Koscielny was among the few to tame the Watford striker, who hailed the Arsenal centre-back as the best he has faced so far in England's top flight.

Ighalo, scorer of 14 Premier League goals this season, was largely marked out of the game when the two sides met at Vicarage Road in October, with Arsenal running out comfortable 3-0 winners.

Collecting his award for Nigerian footballer of the Year Ighalo told Goal: “I think I’ve faced a lot of tough defenders this season.

“But I would say that against Arsenal Koscielny didn’t give me enough space to do what I want to do and that game was really difficult.”

This season has seen Koscielny emerge as Arsene Wenger’s first-choice centre-back, with Per Mertesacker and Gabriel doing battle to join him in the starting lineup over recent weeks.

Arsenal have conceded just 23 goals in 26 games this season, a record bettered only by Tottenham. (London Evening Standard)

•Photo courtesy of Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images shows Koscielny stealing possession from Ighalo.

Source Daily Sports

Posted February 17, 2016

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