Francis Coquelin burst into the Gunners first team a couple of years ago after returning from a loan period at Charlton purely because Arsenal had no other fit midfielders to choose from. Wenger obviously didn’t trust him but when he finally gave the Frenchman a chance he performed magnificently and suddenly he was the first name on the teamsheet. But when Arsenal were going through a lean period last season, Wenger dropped Coquelin and we have hardly seen him since with Wenger having a mountain of midfielders to choose from.
But it appears that the centre-half is going to be given an opportunity tomorrow against Nottm Forest as Wenger has promised that we will getting more games during the congested January period. The boss said today: “He is 100 per cent professional, Francis, and an example for everybody, and all the young players. Life has been a bit unfair with him, it’s true.
“That’s also down a bit to our change in system – he paid a heavy price for that – but overall he’s in a very good shape.
“We’ll have games, many games now, so that will help him keep his focus and maintain his quality at a very high level.”
Le Coq has already played six Cup games this season so he hasn’t been completely sidelined, and Wilshere seems to have played very well when they were midfield partners. There are a lot of fans that have been very unhappy with Granit Xhaka in the centre, and now the Swiss international is injured maybe we will see Coquelin playing more often in the Premier League. Who thinks he should be starting ahead of Xhaka anyway?
No he’s not good enough neither is xhada and his the main problem his not a holding midfielder. The other problem is Steve bould he clearly can’t sort out the defence. Were making the same mistakes at the back week after week. And for me Evans would be a good signing because Chambers is absolutely hopeless and playing monreal centre back sums it all up.
You surely don’t believe Bould is allowed any more influence on the team , than was Pat Rice before him, who also had no real say and was there to just run physical drills. BUT never to influence , tactics and formation. You only have to watch those two stone faces, sitting silently and separately, scowling on the bench to KNOW Bould is allowed no say . Plus a true great defender, in the Adams league, almost, who played when we had a truly great defence, CERTAINLY knows how to defend and could and would easily sort the problems out, were he given any chance by know all Wenger. Clear as day!
I think he was,dropped after that red against Spurs last season.
Xhaka,can do whatever he likes since he cost too much money to make Wengee look a fool buying him.
That’s it folks. Looks like Mahrez is off to Liverpool.
I hope not true but if so I’m gonna be so pissed
I hope it is true. Mahrez is not that great. We need a strong consistent player.
Coquelin is a terrible player. He should not even be on the team.
Have been saying it for ages…Coquelin, El Neny, Xhaka offer nothing to the team. I know I will get a lot of hate for saying this but nowadays I just use FIFA ratings to gauge player quality..and if you play FIFA with Arsenal you will know our midfield and team in general has a very bad rating. Maybe FIFA hates us or maybe our team is genuinely weak.
FIFA lol. Fact is Coquelin is uncomparble better then Xhaka defensively and have Wilshere and Ozil to break down defenses with there passes.
Yes, but merely being much better than the dreadful Xhaka , who is to defence what a pat of hot butter is to a knife, in other words , helpless, still does not mean Coq is good enough. So many people are so easily satisfied with mediocrity and have little true ambition to bring REAL quality players into our club. I can never understand why, unless they are distant relatives of Wenger with the same hopeless genes. We are talking Xhaka and Coquelin level , when we SHOULD be talking Kante or Matic level or better still. We are Arsenal, NOT BRIGHTON.
Our central midfield is rubbish compared to the top 5 teams. Xhaka is no where near good enough to justify his £35 million cost.
Coquelin and Eleny are not good enough to be starters. Our best is Cazorla but he is unlikely to return. That leaves Ramsey and Wilshere really
For ages we’ve needed a top defensive midfielder and top creative box to box player but Wenger has no clue. He could have tried for Seri, Goretzka, Vidal, Krychowiak, Nainggolan, or even Gueye from Everton.
The spine of the team is so important and we are lacking in midfield and also need another top centre back. This may be the reason if we finish 5th or 6th place
Wenger has no clue how to build a top team innit
To be quite honest whether you like him or not, his the only truly holding defensive midfielder we’ve got. I mean, you can’t trust Ramsey or Xhaka to sit in front of the back four, their a joke, all over place, that’s why teams break on us so easy. Trouble is, he gets too many cards and immediately puts himself under pressure, but yes, I’d play him more.
Hopefully we’ll bring a defensive holding midfielder in during the transfer window, we certainly need one but with Wenger, I won’t be holding my breath
Once, he was top 3 dm in premiership, then hes had long injury.
Later, wenger off him, change to 344, eliminate the role of dm.
Right now, coqelin confident is on bottom deep sea.
Forget for new dm, since wenger dont use dm…..
He just buy new young cb, and there rumour about evan who also .
We have boss, per, mustafi, holding, chamber, monreal, new greek cb, and mybe evan, but we only have 1 dm on coqelin.
Ooh people lets not pretend.. Granit xhaka is the best defensive midfielder we have at the moment coz he combines well with other patners; i mean xhaka/rames, xaka/ wilshere, xhaka/elnenny, xhaka/coq……
Imagine for instance you put ramsey and wilshere in central middfield role, it will prove the most defensive loophole…
Pple critisizes xhaka coz maybe he plays too often.. Wait till hes on injury or on the bench on a premier league day and you will see what i mean
Y wrong, xhaka doesnt play as dm, hes playing as deep playing playmaker.
Y must see how wenger praise him for his long pass and ball distribution, when he still playing in bundesliga. Its same spot where arteta and cazorla playing.
Wenger doesnt use dm anymore…..
TOTAL NONSENSE!
Mike spot on……
He misplaces passess a lot, reckless taggles etc, all that said he is still have a key figure for arsenal and I believe is got a good time to learn especially when wenger still available.