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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He should be used to rest song/arteta for the short term. I think where he fits is a bigger question when frimmers returns. Also I think you added the playing for arsenal bit. However, good player that ads some depth to our defensive midfield.
Francis played right back many times in the reserves and yutes. He is a defensive minded player, so playing him in an attacking position doesnt really make any sense to me. He is Song’s understudy/depute at the moment, although we need him to keep filling in at fullback for now.
He will be a massive player for us, calling him a utility player is pretty disrespectful TBH.
Well, at least I do not hope Diaby has any future in our club…
and he should go, Diaby, Denilson, Bendtner, Djohrou, Squilachi, Vela, Arshavin, Chamackh must all be sold to create space for new signings, we even have players like Ryo Miyachi(on loan at bolton), Park chu young, Campbell(on loan at orient, na new signings(Podolski, Hazard/Gotze, Vertogen, M’villa)
Didn’t realise Joel Campbell was on loan to a club a few miles East of N5. Unless of course you meant Lorient instead of Orient?…
Is anyone else having déjà vu?
He reminds me a lot of flamini.
Totally agreed Coquelin is a very versatile player indeed. His vision, confidence, balance, coordination, skills on the ball + his ability to read the game is immense. The type of player whenever, when someone in the team is injured can come in and step up to the plate.
A must have in any team.
What Arsenal lacks are players that can come in off the bench and change a game. Wenger might want to tie him to one position. Coquelin has not helped the situation very much, as he like the JET was able to play in any area on the pitch.
francis should be taken back to the Mid field where he belongs.He shows better technical knowlegde of football than Frinmpong to me.if you give him time in the Mid field as a deffensive mid fielder, i believe in a little time, he will be better then alex song.
thanx for this gunner, u struck into the truth…the guy is a gem…he wins tackkles nd good at launching an attack.!!
similar player to yennaris, could be real competition next season with coquelin frimpong yennaris battling with song and coquelin, yennaris jenkinson battling with sagna. i also think the battle for the other 2 midfield slots will be interesting arteta, ramsey, wilshire, diaby, rosicky, lansbury, with ozyakup, aneke, henderson, ebicilio surely set for loan spells. That is without any new signings.
We ? Coquelin! Thought he had a big game yesterday. Unsung hero.
he proved in numerous occasions, in carling cup against city, and a host of games where he played as a full back..kudos to the lil kid.
i am highly impressed with his(francis coquelin)displays in recent time.i think he will definitely be one of the best player in arsenal in the time to come cos he’s one consistent perfomer in the team recently.let mr wenger give him more playing time so as to improve as a player but for now he should be there to pair sagna at full back cos it is the only position that need back-up as regard our defence line right now.
Flamini is a very limited player in terms of technique, so comparisons with young Coquelin are well wide of the mark, IMO. 🙂
same to me gunner…we got a great player coming up.