Arsenal fans, if they are anything like me, will still be wondering why Arsene Wenger chose to start with Mathieu Flamini as the holding midfielder against AFC Bournemouth instead of the fit again Francis Coquelin. I can only assume that it was an issue about the younger Frenchman’s match fitness even though Coquelin was on the bench and did come on for the final 25 minutes.
I really hope that he is filly match ready again now following two months out of action with a knee injury and I am not alone. One man who knows all about what it takes to play for Arsenal in that crucial holding role is the Brazilian Gilberto Silva and he clearly feels that the Gunners have finally found a player who can match up to the standards set by Patrick Vieira and himself.
In fact Gilberto, as reported by the Evening Standard, appears to think that Coquelin deserves even more credit because of his age and how he has done it off his own back rather than merely fitting in with the players around him as the Brazilian did.
Gilberto said, ““He is improving game by game and from last season to this one he is much better. He is getting to know his position well and that’s important because his role is to allow those up front to play while protecting the back four. He will be very important for Arsenal in the final third of the season.
“He is a young player and what he’s done for Arsenal in the short time he’s been playing has been great. When I was at Arsenal I was older, with more experience and big guys around me.
“He is proving himself over and over and I hope he is at Arsenal for a long period because for any team to have a player who is willing to do the hard job then it makes it harder for the opposition to pass through your defence.”
The former Gunner also thinks that Coquelin’s talents could be vital for the team this weekend, as he sees the clash against league leaders Leicester City as a really tough test of Arsenal’s defensive strength. But if we can stand strong and get the right result in this game, Gilberto thinks that it will be a big step towards regaining the EPL title, something he feels the current squad have the ability to do.
He continued, “I think Arsenal can win the league but that depends how well they do in the crucial games. Leicester is one of them and from now on every point Arsenal drop will make Leicester believe more. Arsenal have not won the league in a long time but I believe they have a great chance this season.
“It’s important for Arsenal to have a very defensive mind considering what Leicester can do. They must mark well throughout the whole field from the guys up front to the midfield protecting the back four. They must close the space because we all know what a great job Vardy has done this season. That starts from the front and it is important to mark well as a team.”
Will Coquelin start ahead of Flamini? And will he help Arsenal to a massive three points and play a vital role in the title challenge as the season builds to a grandstand finish?
So Barcelona like Ozil eh?
Let’s have Rakitic and £42M then ?
no ozil is the worlds best at what he does.
that commands neymar prices fam
if we sell sanchez or ozil this club will never lose its reputation as a small minded selling club
Ozil is going nowhere, he already stated he was happy and settled in London.
Stop this bullsh*t, Ozil is here to stay. Even if he’s leaving why don’t you guys alloy us to concentrate on much better topics??? How about Ozil making his 17th and 18th assists tomorrow? Isn’t a better and more positive tot?? @Twig
Team is almost complete.
————Cech—————-
Bellerin–Mertz–Kos–Nacho
——–Coq——Elneni——–
Ramsey—–Ozil—–Sanchez
———–Walcott————–
I like it.
u may well like it my lil twiglet.
but mertz finds pace a struggle
an wenger will not play elneny yet.
i like wensleydale cranberry cheese but my supermarket never stocks it
Mertz never struggled with Coquelin protecting the defence
mertz did well w coq ahead bc little gets thru coq.
not very happy w either giroud,walcott or ox atm.
Twigs and bUds……..well, not surprised to see em on the same tree
Said the Red eye fellow! ??
To win the Wenger Cup?
We shd have le coq in place of flamini with gabriel maintainin his position over per…Giroud is the best striker we have and should spearhead our attackin department..chambo shd retain his place at the right wing over campbell. The rest of the squad shd remain as always.
“giroud is the best striker we have” : how the might AFC have fallen.
Gabriel injured….Means Mert starts against Vardy!!!!
Mertesacker has won the world cup. He’ll be fine ?
the World Cup winner who struggles against Long and Mane, I wonder if it’s the age or the hype he gets dnt suit him
Just like dortmunds president said.
No one is bigger than the club
Some reports are suggesting that Gabriel could be out for 3 weeks! ?
No doubt, Wenger is trying to keep this quiet until the team sheets are released an hour before kick off, as not to let our opponents have any advantage.
Also, it has been reported that wenger was seen having a deep conversation with Mertesacker during training today.
A) Maybe wenger was telling him not to try out that “No look tackle” again, that he did on Costa?
B) Or maybe he was giving Mertesacker a bollocking for trying to pop Gabriel’s knee cap’s with a baseball bat?
C) It’s more than likely that Wenger was encouraging Mertesacker to drink plenty of Red Bull before the game,
In an attempt to give the lanky snail some Wings! ?