Francis Coquelin believes he has room for improvement, despite impressing in yesterday’s North London derby defeat at Spurs.
On just his second Premier League start the young Frenchman was a tireless presence in the centre of midfield and a bright spark on a day which many Gooners will want to forget in a hurry.
Loaned to Lorient last season, few predicted that the 20-year-old would return to fight for a first team place this term, let alone be handed the huge responsibility of carrying his teammates at both White Hart Lane and Old Trafford.
While Alex Song is likely to return to the holding midfield position once Johan Djourou, Laurent Koscielny and Thomas Vermaelen are available in defence, Coquelin’s versatility has seen him tipped to challenge Carl Jenkinson for the available right-back slot (a position he played in against Stoke City in the FA Cup two years ago) now that Bacary Sagna is sidelined for three months.
Speaking about his inclusion yesterday, Coquelin told Arsenal Player:
“I was a little bit surprised, but you know as soon as the manager needs me I have to get on the pitch and give everything for the team. That’s what I tried to do today.
“There is always things to get better. I’ve still got a lot to work on. I’ll keep training and hopefully do better than that.”
After keeping good possession for much of the first half, Arsenal entered the break one nil down thanks to Rafael van der Vaart’s arm assisted opener. However, in the second half the Gunners took to the field with new vigour.
“I don’t think we played very well in the first half,” reflected Coquelin. “The manager asked us to move the ball quicker in the second half. That’s what we did for the first twenty minutes, then we went a bit down.
“Overall, everyone is really disappointed. You know when you come to Tottenham there is obviously a big rivalry. You hope to win the game and go home 2-1 down is a real shame.”
While many have been quick to point the finger at Wojciech Szczesny’s failure to save Kyle Walker’s winner, Coquelin believes the Pole is absolved of any guilt due to the quality of the strike before concluding that Arsenal can bounce back again.
“It was a good goal, innit. A really good shot. I don’t think Wojciech can see the ball because there are two players [in the way] from Tottenham. But that’s football , we have to move on and win the next game.
“Everyone needs to focus on what they are doing, keep working hard, keep training. We’ve got a good side, soon we’ll get the results.”
Its amazing how he has progressed. While I agree he still has work to do you have to admit he kind of went over expectations
LE COQ will save us this season!!!
‘Good goal, innit’. Can this boy play for England?
Might be doom and gloom today, but with boys like this, there’s still hope.
It’s for fearing/anticipating this grotesque implosion that (via the internet) I ‘shouted’ myself hoarse for Wenger to strengthen the squad in summer. His obstinate pursuit of profits and the Board’s insatiable greed for the same always promised to blow-up Arsenal. It’s diabolical and “vulgar” that Arsenal have lost 4 out of 7 league matches – without playing Chelsea and Man City – and with reverse fixtures against Spurs, Liverpool and Man Utd on the menu. If Wenger couldn’t recruit adequately with over a decade of consistent Champions League earnings, will spend when Arsenal escape relegation in May 2012? Which quality… Read more »
Mr Moses: Should and could have done, Cannot be done until January 2012. Too much doom and glum…. its sport and occasionally you have a bad patch. As a supporter I’m sure you were purring in 2004/5 when we went 49 games unbeaten… it was a period of bragging rights and boasting. Now we are a team in transition, with a new system of play, new players, it may take a season for them to gel. But if you seek and want instant gratification please support Newcastle… they are bossing the EPL at present. (Irony). And RVP is not dodging… Read more »
Mate, the reason van Persie has not signed yet and is not hinting to is 1) Every week we have to go from London to some other place for a match and back, 2) He has a family and I bet you he has to discuss it with them. It is not like Fabregas or Nasri where they did not have any family at all in England. and 3) He has more important things to worry about besides how much he will get paid next year. I bet you he already paid off all his yearly expenses and still has… Read more »
Robin that’s blatantly you isn’t it!
“Coquelin’s versatility has seen him tipped to challenge Carl Jenkinson for the available right-back slot (a position he played in against Stoke City in the FA Cup two years ago) now that Bacary Sagna is sidelined for three months” I am a very optimistic person and I refuse to get down when my teams loses, because I accept that this is sport. But certain circumstances and situation can lead to our own downfall. The Coq played right back two years ago, that is true, and I recall he did not do very well in that position (I was a member… Read more »
would it out of the question to put one of either santos or gibbs at right back?
Somehow the Gilberto-Vieira partnership came to mind the instant that I tried imagining Coquelin fielding with another of the young midfielders. Maybe it’s because he’s French, but I’m certainly looking forward to the future Arsenal midfield. Gervinho lacks the end-product but is a terribly tricky winger too. The future selecting of Alex, Walcott, Gervinho, Coquelin, Frimpong, Wilshere, Ramsey and Song is an exciting prospect. All we need now is for Park to go berserk for Arsenal and demolish the Premier League, while identifying and luring a successor to continue his legacy. I do believe we need a young striker and… Read more »
Agree a younger striker is what is needed but guess what, we already have one in Joel Campbell. (Sorry if when you read that you thought I was being an asshole and being sarcastic) In case you did not know Joel scored over the weekend with Lorient
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03v0YjVLiDU
And so far in 5 games he has 1 goal which to me is good considering this is his first time in europe.
By the way, i won’t blame Szcz on the second goal since if u look at it after reply from Walker angel, the ball did swerve to do right before it change the swerve to the left.. Same like the knuckle ball C. Ronaldo produce with his free kick.. Which is very hard to deal with.. For me most of the keepers around would not be able to save that kind of shot if they were in his shoe..
Hey as long a Chesney is better than De Gay I am happy 🙂
According to ESPN, Ancellotti wants the Arsenal job. I think that we should let him have it, he’s a great manager and he’s done well with a lot of the best teams in the world. At least he’d do a better job than Wenger.
http://bepartofit.mcfc.co.uk/
You will fell much at home here mate.
Like he did at Chelsea or you already forgot he’s “what the hell I’m doing here”look?
*HIS “…”look
Ancellotti looks like a younger, slightly-retarded brother of a mafia boss
Not surprised of his progression with his attitude.
Shame about sagna. By far our most consistant and probably underrated players we have
Outstanding performance against spurs for his first prem league start.
I like this boy.
And not in the way some of you sick fucks are thinking.
Healthy competition to Frimpong.
Currently, Coq plays like Rocky while Frim plays like Mr.T.
Really impressed with our very own Coq on a ball. I see a ton of potential here, and I hope he keeps getting some games. Could have a break-out season. Certainly he’s much more disciplined than Frimpong, and his passing range is extraordinarily good.
On current form, I’d play him before Ramsey (midfield of Song, Arteta, Coquelin).
i would much rather play frimpong at right back because hes got some speed about him… and i would honestly play coquelin behind the back four, song beside him but able to push forward a little more, and then arteta behind the striker. ever since ramsey has started in midfield, back since last year when fabregas got injured, we have not looked like the same team at all. either that or change the fucking formation wenger.
If we play Coquelin behind the back four, I predict having massive trouble with the offside trap, moreso than currently.
Nah, he would be a back one, and the four in front of him would all be defensive midfielders. Isn’t the current received wisdom that the 4-5-1 formation allows your midfield to out-muscle the opponent’s ?
Well then, 1-4-4-1 = 8 midfielders. We’d win every game.
[…] starters, Coquelin, who has been impressive so far, has showed his humilityand says he has a long way to go and will work hard to reach the top. Now, that’s what you call a true humble footballer. […]
[…] soon as the manager needs me I have to get on the pitch and give everything for the team”, he said. “There is always things to get better. I’ve still got a lot to work on. I’ll keep training […]