A lot of the big clubs these days use the loan system quite a lot to help them, and Arsenal are no different. With all the academy players trying to make it into the first team as well as a big squad to start with, sometimes the only way for a player to get some valuable competitive experience is for them to go to another club for a bit.
But often this is the last chance for a player, especially once they get past the age of 20, so I must admit that I thought that Francis Coquelin would probably be leaving Arsenal this summer. His loan deal last season with Bundesliga club Freiburg was beset by unlucky injuries and some of his performances were heavily criticised.
But the young Frenchman seems to have bounced back from that disappointment and has had a good pre-season. He also played really well for the under 21s against West Brom on Thursday evening and is the only player in the Arsenal squad, apart from Mathieu Flamini, that is a proper defensive midfielder. That and his versatility, which means he can play at right back as well, mean that Coquelin could be a useful squad player for the Gunners this season, especially if Wenger does not sign anyone else for that role before Monday night.
So, Gooners, do you think that the 23-year old Frenchman could really salvage his career with Arsenal?