Koscielny subbed early in 2nd half with apparent hamstring injury

Arsene Wenger was forced into making an early change in the second half of Wednesday’s Champions League Round of 16 bout, introducing Gabriel Paulista from the bench in place of captain Laurent Koscielny.

The oft-reliable Arsenal defender appeared to be nursing a hamstring issue.

Moments after Koscielny had to depart the encounter, Bayern Munich took full advantage of the visitor’s afflicted backline. First, Robert Lewandowski headed in a Philipp Lahm cross, and then Thiago Alcantara finished off a sweet team move moments later.

In under 180 seconds, 1-1 had turned to 3-1 to Bayern; and Thiago then made it four on 63 minutes.

Koscielny hasn’t sat out any Arsenal matches through injury so far this term, and if he’s sidelined he’ll likely be replaced by the erratic Gabriel, largely untested Rob Holding, or an auxiliary option from elsewhere on the pitch.