Ighalo: Koscielny the best defender I've faced

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Ighalo: Koscielny the best defender I've faced - The Watford striker, voted as Goal's Nigeria Player of the Year for 2015, says he has not faced a tougher opponent than the Arsenal centre-back in his breakthrough season
Watford striker Odion Ighalo says that Laurent Koscielny is the toughest defender he has faced during his first season in the Premier League.

Ighalo, who has been voted Goal’s Nigerian Player of the Year for 2015, has scored 15 Premier League goals so far this season but failed to find the net when the Gunners visited Vicarage Road in October.

Arsenal ran out 3-0 winners on the day, as strikes from Alexis Sanchez, Olivier Giroud and Aaron Ramsey consigned the Hornets to a heavy defeat.

And Ighalo has concluded that Koscielny has been his toughest opponent of the past six months, having faced every Premier League backline at least once.

“I think I’ve faced a lot of tough defenders this season,” Ighalo told Goal after collecting his award.

“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.

“I’d have to say it’s Koscielny.”

Koscielny has made 22 Premier League appearances in 2015-16, helping the Gunners to the joint second best defensive record in the division.