It’s amazing what a difference a week can make. Before Arsenal’s game against Manchester City at the weekend, Francis Coquelin was just another one of the catalogue of young Arsenal affiliates who looked as if they might eventually be heading out of the back door.
One stellar performance later and Arsenal are reportedly desperate to sign him up to a new lucrative deal. The Guardian reports:
Francis Coquelin’s encouraging recent form since he was granted more regular involvement at Arsenal is set to be rewarded with talks under way with the Frenchman’s representatives aimed at securing him a new contract at the Emirates Stadium.
And it’s no wonder. With Arsene Wenger seemingly loathe to spend more than a tenner on any player that frequents his own half of the pitch, the idea that they can have a top drawer anchor man for nothing would be a particularly tantalising one.
But Coquelin and Arsenal need to be giving this kind of performance on a regular basis. Arsene Wenger is desperate to believe that this was a turning point for his undoubtedly talented team – a team who, by the way, has most of its key players fit for the first time in years – but the Manchester City result is currently still an isolated exception to the rule that says Arsenal get their pants pulled down by the big boys.
But it’s a start. And if Coquelin can repeat the trick on a regular basis Arsenal will be an eminently more difficult side to beat.
Arsenal fans: is Coquelin the perfect answer as anchor man or does the club still need to invest in a really seasoned defensive midfielder?
