Francis Coquelin says he’s been impressed with new boy Mohamed Elneny, after the the Egyptian international put in fine performances over the last few weeks.
He scored a peach of a goal against Barcelona at the Camp Nou, and alongside the Frenchman has formed an effective partnership in the wins over Everton and Watford.
He made a Premier League high of 122 passes in the 4-0 win over the Hornets, and Coquelin says the rest of the team are doing their utmost to help him settle in.
“We talk a lot, of course,” he said. “He’s a new player so we are here to help him understand one another. We talk a lot on the pitch as well, and that is a big help.
“We are getting stronger each game, and if it can carry on this way it will be a good partnership.”
Having joined from FC Basel in January, it took a while for him to be given his chance, but now that he has he’s taken it well.
“It’s going well, he’s a great addition to the squad,” said Coquelin. “He’s settled really quickly, because don’t forget he’s only been here for two months. I thought he was fantastic in the game against Barcelona, and against Everton as well.
“Of course he has natural qualities too and that makes everything easier as well. As soon as you play for Arsenal Football Club, you know you will be able to play alongside any player because they must have qualities to be here.
“You need to play together in training, in games, talk a lot, but at the end of the day you each know that the other player has the needed qualities.”
The Coqeneny partnership certainly worked well in last two games, but it wouldn’t be unfair to suggest that Saturday’s visit to Upton Park will be a little more of a test.
Let’s see how they go.
Keep going. Could be our central midfield partnership for the next 5 years or more!
You can argue that this is all little too late..
But boy is he an upgrade on ‘Yell / point / never actually stay in midfield’ flamini!!
How is it a little too late? None of these guys is on loan. They will play on for years to come.
I expect us to mount another title challenge next season. There are no guarantees that Chelsea will improve (who expected their collapse this term); ditto Man U. Non even City with Pep is a certain; Spurs will huff and puff, show promise and ultimately fall away. Liverpool has lost the attraction of top top players; Leceister might be fighting relegation next season for all you care. No guarantees whatsoever.
….And a club which isn’t arsenal will still end up with the title.
Both played really well together. The Hammers will be a bigger test than our last couple of games.
I’m sure they’ll come through it. We have to win all our games
Come On You Reds!
The West Ham game is pivotal; win that, and the hope of overhauling the front two becomes more realistic.
Coquelin and Elneny need to be at the top of their game to minimize the obvious threat of Dmitri Payet. We have a forward line that can hurt WH real bad – will score a minimum of 2 – so the onus is on stopping them from scoring and we are home and dry.
I’m worried about Gabriel giving up fouls anywhere in Payet’s range. Man, that guy can smash them in from some silly distances. Maybe time for Per to make a comeback at CB…
I am very excited about this emerging partnership. I know the sample size remains small in terms of games played together but Coquelin looks to be coming back to his best and I have not seen him this comfortable since he established a partnership with Carzola. As for Elneny, again early days, but it looks like Wenger’s eye for finding and signing high ceiling talent at a reasonable price tag remains one of his best attributes. I know some folks have questioned why Elneny did not come into the starting 11 sooner but hindsight is always a 20/20. I, for… Read more »
Think it will be easier for these two in a West Ham who like to get on the ball and play. These 2 can break up the play and setup counter attacks. These team is so much better with Elneny, Iwobi and Welbeck and now Alexis is firing too. So much to look forward to.
Massive pressure on these two to keep payet and lanzinni quiet but they seem to already have a great understanding and appreciation of what exactly their job is in this team. ..plug the gaps, make interceptions, recover possession and make tackles.. then when in possession make angles and options for the man on the ball and when they get it move it quickly and simply to the more creative players. No egos, no hunger for personal glory, just working hard for the team. Simple but so effective and allows the front 4 almost complete freedom to cause havoc up the… Read more »
And protects the defence, who on form are top players anyway – Cech, Kos, Gabs, Hector and Nacho.
Lots of pace and athleticism throughout midfield and defence, things associated with Wenger’s top teams.
Bear with the metaphor, but I’d like Elneny to become one of those Park Ji-Sung, Darren Fletcher type players that United always had under Ferguson. Perhaps not exceptionally talented, perhaps not world-class; instead highly professional, highly focused players with whom you are guaranteed a good job done for 90 minutes a match, 38 games a season. I love Ramsey, I think he’s quality, but the fact he’s capable of the world class often means he goes out looking for it and neglects the more basic responsibilities of a midfielder. Success in football is synonymous with consistency – it’s useless for… Read more »
We have Monreal as one of those types but the more the better…
You’ve hit the nail on the head there, I couldn’t have said it better myself!
I prefer to calling it the MoCoq partnership.
I have been calling it ElCoq… I can’t settle on which I think is the best.
I prefer calling it the MoCoq partnership.
Looking forward to it for the next few seasons. Similar to the Coq/Santi partnership and shows how much we have missed the midfield stability.
I’m still stuck on “Coqney” considering they’re running the show for us Londoners.
Coqneny.
ElCoq sounds best to me.
Yeah i love El Coq too!
Hmmm…
What I love about the pairing so far is the quick decisive movement of the ball out of dangerous areas where we have had a tendency to turn it over in the past immediately putting us under pressure. Less overly elaborate play or hanging onto it too much right in front of the defense, which helps us against the pressing game, one of our biggest weaknesses.
Certainly looks promising for us.
Getting spoilt for choice in the middle. Can only be a good thing and because its early in the pairing we can expect even better things from them id hope.
I like what Parisian Weetabix said.. Spot on!
Am I the only one that thinks it should be called the elcoqney partnership?
Coqneny Please!
Midfield three – Coqels and Mozils
The thing is..,where does Santi fit in when fully fit? Being past the 30 yr old mark does Wenger move him back to the wings or move him on!! Or have a not so happy Santi on the bench 70% of the time.
To get rid of a fan favourite and our most technically gifted player because a new guy has come in and performed well for a handful of games?…. hmmm
Santi stays.
Santi is the most technically gifted? Not so sure. He can dribbble and pass with both feet but can’t shoot on target with either. 🙂 I think Ozil has mor technical quality.
“Coquelneny” surely.