Francis Coquelin has been baptised a fan favorite ever since he was recalled from his loan at Charlton Athletic. He has provided Arsenal with the defensive stability and physical presence they were missing all season long and has proven himself to be a vital asset.
The 24 year-old has also gained popularity around the locker room and has made a name for himself. The boss is a big fan of the savage defensive midfielder, and his teammates really appreciate him; Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in particular seems to be very fond of him.
The English midfielder has hailed Coquelin and claimed that the French brute is a crucial player in the team’s starting XI.
“At the moment he’s the first person I’d put on my team sheet.
“I love watching him play and it’s not often that you tend to say that,” Oxlade Chamberlain said. “I watch all the games and when I’m playing alongside Francis, there’s nobody better to play with.”
The Englishman also praised the technical abilities of Coquelin and the security and confidence he brings to the side, who have been lacking that balance arguably since the days of Gilberto Silva at the heart of the midfield.
“He brings that security and confidence that you have someone like that who can pick the ball up, intercept balls that should never be intercepted, win tackles that you don’t think he can win, and he’s also a quality player on the ball as well.
“You can never take away his technical ability and that goes unnoticed at times because he just does his job, but he’s probably one of the best technicians in our side as well.”
