Francis Coquelin looks keen to play in any position he is given, as long as he’s getting games under his belt.
The 20-year-old Frenchman is so versatile that he can, if told to, play at left and right right-back, or in his original defensive midfield role.
Coquelin prefers to play in midfield, but the youngster has filled in on both sides of the back four in recent months due to the large amount of injuries that have occurred. However, He doesn’t seem to complain about where he plays, as long as he is playing football for Arsenal.
A few days ago, before the return of Bacary Sagna, Coquelin said:
‘At the moment it’s at right-back, even if I’m usually a midfielder, but it’s not a problem. I’m doing everything I can to play.
‘It’s only really at the start of this season that I have started playing with the first team. I played against Manchester United at the end of August.
‘Since that, I try to get as much time on the pitch with the first team as possible, whatever the position.’
Well the only challenge that faces Arsene Wenger is what to do with the utility player. Does Arsene convert him to a full-back or return him to his original role in the centre of the park? The midfield area will become much more congested when Abou Diaby and Jack Wilshere return from their respective injuries, so if I was Wenger I would certainly consider transforming Coquelin into a full-back.
He’s played so well in this position you wouldn’t have guessed that he is a midfielder by trade unless someone told you. He delivers good balls into the box from the wide position, tracks back well and is a consistent performer. He could very well prove vital when some of our more senior players decide to hang up their boots, such as Sagna.
But out of curiosity, I’d like to see how he would do in a centre attacking midfield role. He looks the type of player who would thrive in this position, but I doubt this will ever happen, as we already have Aaron Ramsey and Tomas Rosicky battling for this place in the team.
Where do you guys think Francis Coquelin’s future lies in Arsenal – in the centre of midfield or should Wenger convert him into a full-back?
Give us your thoughts on the matter
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try him as an attacking midfielder,i see him being better in that position because he is creative,quick and can attack better than ramsey and/or even rosicky
francis reminds me of flamini in 2005 enroute to our champions league final, he deputized for the injured Ashley cole @ left back and performed fantastic that we almost forgot we had cole. Francis mobility gives him a chance to succeed @ fulback as his flair would be an added advantage. Wenger should encourage d boy in his new role since d midfield has got plenty of players.
I think it is best for Mr Wenger to make use of a player who is technically an all rounder. Francis has all the ability and brains to paly in any position particularly in the defence were Arsenal are very fragile.
At the moment Arsenal need a couple of verstile
players to fill in the gap when replacing individuals who are not up to standard particularly during the last quarter of the game which have been lost time and time again over the last six years.
We have lots of players vying for the midfield slots. A player can stay on as versatile (filling different positions).like o’shea. But he can give sagna some tough time now. He combines defense with attack well. A club should have at least 2 of this type of versatile options.
Francis will be ok for us right back or CM. Better than Flamini and should certainly get the nod before anyone else if Song dips in form or Sagna gets injured.