Victory through harmony. If Arsenal were a genre of music they would be jazz. Their playing style is free flowing and based around improv. On the pitch, players interchange positions and play quick, intricate passes that leave defenses chasing shadows. This playing style has defined Arsenal and earned them the reputation as one of the most aesthetically pleasing teams to watch in world football. However, over the past decade the team has been criticized for favoring style over substance as their trademark football has failed to produce trophies on a consistent basis.
Arsenal’s greatest strength has always been their midfield. Wenger loves to sign technically gifted midfielders that orchestrate the game and make his brand of football possible. However, this tendency has often resulted in an unbalanced midfield that thrives going forward but struggles defensively. Too many players push forward and when possession is lost they are often punished on the counter attack.
The lack of a defensive presence in the midfield has been an issue ever since Patrick Viera left for Juventus in 2005. To be fair, the legendary Frenchman was always going to be hard to replace but for some reason Wenger declined to make it a top priority. In the past decade, the only player who was somewhat successful in the defensive midfield role was Alex Song. All though he favored attacking over defending, he provided a physical presence in the midfield and was a good distributer of the ball. His best season came during the 2011-2012 campaign when he provided 14 assists in all competitions. The irony that the midfielder with the most defensive responsibility led the team in assists can’t be ignored. Later that summer he was courted by Barcelona and was eventually sold for £15,000,000.
Sometimes the hardest things to see are the things that hide in plain sight. Arsenal’s next great midfield anchor was already at the club and had been there since 2008. After several loan spells and an Arsenal career defined by substitute appearances, Francis Coquelin would move from the peripheral of the first team right into its very heart.
In December of 2014, Coquelin was on a loan at Championship side Charlton Athletic. The loan was cut short when Arsenal recalled him to help alleviate their injury depleted midfield. After impressing in several substitute appearances, Coquelin was granted a spot in the starting lineup for the first time in 23 months when Arsenal faced West Ham at Upton Park. The Gunners went on to win the game 2-1, in a performance that was defined by grit and determination as opposed to offensive prowess.
Grit and determination are adjectives that are rarely associated with Arsenal but that’s exactly what Coquelin brings to the table. On top of this, he also reads the game very well and puts himself in positions where he can break up play and intercept passes. According to Squaka, Coquelin has more tackles (48) and more interceptions (45) than any other player in the Premier League in 2015. Coquelin is also comfortable with the ball at his feet completing 83% of his passes and opting for the forward pass 81% of the time. In Arsenals most recent game against Burnley, Coquelin had 11 interceptions, which is more than any other player has had in a single game this season.
Coquelin acts as the perfect buffer between the defense and the midfield because he enjoys the art of defending but is also a good distributer of the ball. In the past, the Arsenal midfield would bomb forward leaving themselves susceptible to counter attacks but with Coquelin in the lineup they have a safety blanket that sits in front of the back four and smothers opposition attacks. Coquelin has retained his spot in the starting lineup ever since the West Ham game and has evolved into one of the most important players on the team.
It’s clear that Arsenal have always taken great pride in developing young players. Coquelin has been at the club for seven years and gone through many trials and tribulations. For a long time it appeared as if he was destined to be another young prospect who would never quite transition into the first team but when he was given his opportunity, he took full advantage and never looked back. If Wenger goes out and signs an established defensive midfielder during the summer he will stunt Coquelin’s development and send a bad message to the rest of young players at the club. Coquelin has earned the right to anchor the midfield for Arsenal Football Club and at the age of 23 he’s only going to better.
