Arsene Wenger has been talking about the man on every Arsenal fans’ lips; Francis Coquelin. The Frenchman has been a more than impressive figure in the side since being recalled from his loan move at Charlton Athletic and much praise has been heaped on the 23 year-old.
Coquelin was unimpressive in a loan move to FC Lorient where he was used in a box-to-box role, meaning his best talents were not being utilised as well as they could have been.
The Frenchman returned from his loan and was sent back out to gain further experience, this time in Germany with Freiburg, a spell that Coquelin described as ‘a turning point’.
“The period in Germany helped me a lot, it was a tough, tough experience mentally and that was a turning point in my career. I’m happy I went there and learned a lot,” Coquelin said to Arsenal player.
With an impressive loan spell in Germany under his belt, Arsene Wenger decided to send Coquelin on another short term loan but on this occasion he would remain in England with Charlton.
Coquelin moved to Charlton on 3rd November 2014 and returned to Arsenal amid an injury crisis on 12th December. Shortly after, the 23 year-old made his debut as a late substitute in the 4-1 victory over Newcastle United.
Coquelin remained a substitute after his short stint against Newcastle but the protection to the defence that the midfielder showed was enough for Wenger to be convinced of his abilities and he earned himself a spot in the starting 11 away at West Ham, an impressive defensive performance that has seen him remain in the side since.
The former Freiburg man recalled the past few months of his career: “It has been a few exciting months for me [recently]. I have come back from Charlton, gone into the team as a sub and now I’m in the starting XI, so I am really pleased with things at the minute.
“[January] was a big part of my career. It was the first time I played so many games in a row so I could show game by game what I could do. It was a big month for me with the wins we got and everything was positive.”
Since his return to the side, Coquelin has started 21 of a possible 26 games for Arsenal and Arsene Wenger weighed in with his version of events on Coquelin’s rise to first team prominence.
“I explained to him that what I liked most was his ball-winning potential rather than his playmaking potential, so I sent him out on loan to France for experience.
“He played without being convincing in the box-to-box role.”
Despite impressing on loan at Charlton and earning a recall to the side due to injuries and his own impressive performances, Coquelin was not as happy as Wenger may have expected to be recalled.
“He [then] went to Charlton and I sent somebody to watch him. The reports were positive and I called him back after five weeks, and he wasn’t happy. I said to him, ‘why are you not happy?’ and he said, ‘I was playing regularly for Charlton and you called me back just to cover and not to play me’.
“We went into the first game and I didn’t start him. Then we went to West Ham United and I started him. He was surprised because we played at home against QPR and I didn’t play him, but I did away at West Ham.
“Since then, he has not moved out of the team because he sticks to what he is strong at – winning the ball and using it well. What is also surprising is that he’s very good in the air because he has a very good leap.
The boss is like many within the club and has been extremely impressed with all that Coquelin has achieved in his short spell thus far and Wenger said that he has ensured the star does not ‘forget his long periods of suffering and desire to remain patient’.
“I always remind him that we have gone through a long period of suffering and I tell him not to forget that – always remember who you are. That is a very great example for young kids because you make a career with one dominant quality, but sometimes you forget who you are.
“He’s a good example but the other good example is that he arrived at 17 and has finally made it at 24. It’s unbelievable how patient and open-minded you have to be.”
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