Former Arsenal captain and current pundit praised French midfielder Kone ahead of France’s World Cup group match against Norway, highlighting his admiration for the player’s performance.
He described Kone as the best midfielder in France, ranking him above teammates Aurelien Tchouaméni and Adrien Rabiot because of his mobility, aggression, ball‑winning ability, and technical skill in building play.
Kone began the match on the pitch alongside Tchouaméni, with Rabiot left out, and had previously dealt with injuries that made the season challenging for him.
When asked about speculation surrounding his future, Kone said he was focused solely on the World Cup, stating that discussions about his next club would come after the tournament.
He emphasized that the World Cup is his first major international competition and that he intends to dedicate all his attention to the national team during the event.
