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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The problem seems to be `what does Wenger do with Ramsey`? Both he and Gervinho are now squad players used to rotate. As Wenger says ” you have to select on form and availability”, let`s see if he`s true to his word.
The lad should be taken back to his position DM, if need arise for him to cover for a full back then we will take him back just like we are doing with Song..
Lille have expressed their interest on him on numerous occasion which shows his potential..take back to DM soon as santos cum back please.!
i think we should try give him him a run in CM along side song. not that arteta is bad, arteta is indespensible. coquelin is a defensive player by position but by nature, i think he’ll be very usefull in attacks and aswell as having a slightly defensive player further up front, but maybe CAM is too far upfront, hence CM.
its very strange to see a defensive player with flair like coquelin. his ball control, technique n most importantly “use of skill” is very good, and we’ve seen that his long balls are more than accurate enough for someone his age. he is both attacking and defensive player. playing him at right back is just cause of our predicament. Otherwise i think we have a player who’ll make a distinct image for himself in the EPL.
Coquelan should be deployed at midfield to aid Song while Arteta aid in attack coz Ramsey is not consistent
On a side note – this all makes an interesting case for a 3-4-3 while we wait on sagna.
—Kos — Merts — Verm—
——-Coquien—Song——-
—–Ramsey——-Arteta—-
—Theo——RVP——AoC—
Pretty balanced in my opinion…
WHAT?? Where is the best right back in the league in this team? As much as I rate le Coq, there is no way in hell I would drop Sagna for him. The guy is immense.
I’m still not sold on Song. Yes he creates but he is meant to be our defensive mid. We concede a lot of goals because Song has gone walkabout and isn’t there to screen the defence.
Future midfield of le Coq, Wilshere + Ramsey (new creative mid if he doesn’t get back to a good level).
Yo, right now I’m not sure it really matters, at 20 years of age I think it would be beneficial for him to just float around in the first team and gain valuable experience, as he is happy to do. If he is pigeon holed in a position then it will reduce his game time as Wenger is becoming increasingly wary of over playing the youngsters. Obviously due to the injuries that have occurred to young players who feature regularly in recent years. His versatility is vital to his importance, something that only a few players in the squad possess, Vermaelen being another great asset. Coquelin has a good footballing brain and the skill to match and I for one am thoroughly looking forward to observing his continued progression. I would definitely have him above Ramsey in the pecking order for that midfield role though, until Jack is back at least.
The boy is more useful in mid-field & wings on d field than ramsey…I think ramsey should relaxed..& boy should give tim
What about Yennaris and Jenkinson, they seem like pretty interesting prospects. Coquelin has much more value as a midfielder. His bonus is his ability to adapt to different positions.
We will win whatever matches when Francis Coquelin is playing but will lose whatever matches when Johan djourou is playing.
Johan should be let go many years ago, Coquelin is one of the most eciting plyer that will bring Arsenal to next level
Best player on the pitch vs Blackburn. Everybody was distracted by the goals scored. I heard a commentator said that Walcott only does good when he doesnt think what he is about to do. Check for yourself every time he looks up to decide before kicking he gives away the ball.