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Coquelin set to star for Arsenal against Chelsea

In recent weeks Francis Coquelin nullified the threat of Philippe Coutinho and Raheem Sterling. He then stopped Angel Di Maria and Ander Herrera. The Arsenal midfielder now faces his biggest challenge of the season so far as Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas prepare to visit the Emirate’s on Sunday.

The 23-year-old’s reputation has continued to grow since his return from Charlton on loan. Comparisons to Chelsea’s own defensive midfield unit Nemanja Matic, who Coquelin recently praised, have flooded the headlines and now the Frenchman faces his biggest test to date to truly justify the praise aimed towards him this season.

Opta-powered fantasy football game www.oulala.com analysed Coquelin’s Premier League performances since the turn of the year to see how he has fared in six key areas.

Manager Arsene Wenger has started the 23-year-old in all thirteen league games in 2015 with the Frenchman clocking up an impressive 1,166 minutes of football.

Looking at the stats, Coquelin is simply in a league of his own. He leads every single player for tackles won (45) and interceptions (57) in 2015. The Frenchman has also made an impressive 54 clearances and 5 blocks in that time.

As far as duels go, Coquelin’s dominance continues. Winning an excellent 89% of his take-ons and 66% of his aerial duels, the midfielder’s work-rate and influence to Arsenal’s recent upsurge in form is unquestionable.

It appears that Arsene Wenger has finally found the missing cog to his Arsenal side ever since Partrick Vieira’s departure. Arsenal’s attacking threat has never been in doubt. If Coquelin can stop the threat that Hazard and Fabregas pose then maybe, just maybe Arsene Wenger can finally get one over his nemesis – Jose Mourinho.

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23 Comments

  2. Its a strange position – DM…have to do all the dirty work (tackles, fouls, get yellow cards), but don’t often get recognised (MOTM awards)…but lucky for Coq, us Arsenal fans notice the difference he makes even if KJ doesn’t!!!!!

    1. I think one of the main reasons Wenger was reluctant to buying a DM was because there was none of the highest quality, not every DM is a Makelele or a Busquets..

    2. wouldnt say they get no credit – look at the praise we give coquelin, matic get sloads, viera, makelele, pogba, alonso – if youre class the you get the praise, its just harder to be a sanchez due to the pure technical skills invovled, then a tough tackler that is all.

  3. Love Alexis and Coquelin. True warriors….
    Now, what is all that Cesc kissed the badge talk? Did he kiss it? Would he?

  4. Well Coquelin cant do it all alone,like the Man city game we need to work together each man covering up for the other Man’s mistake,But I feel it would be down to attacking play,we need to be clinical it has cost us a lot in recent years against chelsea,remember the 5-3 thumping at the bridge,we were clinical on that day,so even if we get caught,if we attack it would be the best form of defence,then we end up outscoring them,We need our Attackers to really work hard and really finish any chances created.

  5. would start:

    ospina
    bellerin, gabriel, koscielny, monreal
    coquelin, ramsey
    welbeck, ozil, sanchez
    giroud

    1. I would probs replace ramsey with cazola considering how well he has been doing and that he has played extremely well alongside le coq ( Man city game)

      1. I don’t see an Arsenal team without Carzola in it anymore. He will probably even be captain on the day.

  7. Arsenal win = Coqulin MOTM. These two will go hand in hand in the match. One cant exist without the other. That is how i see this match.

  8. The thing is – in terms of quality, this is the most amount of quality that Mourinho would probably have faced against Wenger. It is not as simple as tag teaming our best player anymore because Ozil, Sanchez, Ramsey and Cazorla can’t all be kept quite at the same time as one of their defenders battling Giroud.

    I think it’s on us. People can call him a master tactician all they want but at home with our quality IMO we can get a result of we perform.

    2. Agree and if we start with say MD/LK/GP/NM as a back 4, screened by Coq in tandem with the nutty work rates of Alexis, Santi and Welbz it will certainly be the most physicality and energy he has faced in an Arsenal team for donkey’s years. Not counting any chickens though – still think this will hinge on a single moment of madness/controversy/sublime skill.

  9. You Damn right he is lol
    I don’t think Flamini would do the job, right?

    Another reason to get another top DM. Coquelin can’t play every match in all 4 tournaments. Also, if Coquelin got injured. This year Ozil got injured but Cazorla saved us. We lost Giroud for three months but Sanchez saved us with some goals. But if we had lost Coquelin we probably wouldn’t be 2nd.

  11. I agree but it is not something easily resolved. The fans say just buy another player as good as or better than Coq so there is no drop off in quality if one gets injured. Easy to say but more problematic to implement. Who is this player who will, in a normal season if Coq stays fit, be on the bench for PL and UCL and maybe get starts in LC and FAC? None of the names touted around this site will come for that. If we get someone better than Coq, whoever that may be, then Coq is benched and/or off to pastures new. The probability is that we are going to have to “slum it” with Arteta or Chambers or an emerging Beliek as back-up. Look at Matic’s replacement – JOM. Fernando at City, can’t think of anyone at L’Pool to replace Lucas nor anyone at United to replace Carrick. There is a drop-off in quality at nearly every club if their main man is out of action.

    1. I would suggest kondogbia or wanyama. Cause I don’t see schneiderlin coming to sit on the bench

  12. Ospina
    Debuchy,Gabriel,Kosci,Monreal

    RAmsey,Coq,Santi

    Alexis———Ozil

    Giroud.

    4-3-2-1 Pyramid formation

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