Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Francis Coquelin is on the cusp of penning a new contract at the Emirates.
The 23-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and had been expected to leave the Emirates having spent two of the last four seasons out on loan at Lorient and Freiburg respectively.
However, in light of his impressive form since returning from a short spell at Charlton – ended prematurely due to the Gunners’ injury crisis in December – the defensive midfielder will be given the chance to stay and fight for a regular first team place.
“Coquelin is 99 per cent there,” Wenger told his pre-Aston Villa press conference when asked about negotiations.
The boss was also quizzed on stories that circulated earlier this week about a new deal for club captain Mikel Arteta, but he maintained there was no update.
A welcome extension for the Coq
>> insert coq (pun) here <<
Subtlety isn’t your strong suit, is it? Because that wasn’t a particularly subtle joke you missed.
Phil, you’ve really gone and put his foot in your mouth.
thats what she said!
I wont believe it until pen’is put to paper.
Great to see blogs use my name in the post today:D
Can we just pretend that Coq is a new signing… Everyone crying for us to sign a new DM will shutup! Cause he is quality.
I respectfully disagree. He has played well and deserves his spot in the first team–credit where credit is due–but I suspect it’s still a position we can improve upon. I’d love it if he was our long-term defensive midfielder solution, but I think we need to see more of him–a season’s worth, say–until definitively saying he’s the one.
In some ways, I think our enthusiasm about his playing has as much to do with finally having a player play well in that position (Flamini has been out of form all season), then it does with Coq’s attributes.
Our Coq is close to contracting.
Our Coq is getting harder and harder…..is it the new Viegra?
Coq extension. Nice
That’s what I asked Santa for but I suppose I wasn’t good enough last year. Oh well. Maybe I should have written to Santi instead
I like this recent pattern where blogs is sure someone isn’t going to sign an extension (Walcott, Coq), and turns out to be wrong.
Hope it also applies to Akpom.
Coq has really grown this last two months. If you give your Coq action it will do the business
Unless you have erectile dysfunction. Then it won’t do the business.
Oh wait.
We’re talking about a football player here… Aren’t we? \_(~.~)_/
Joey Barton has erectile dysfunction. He can’t stand up straight, just runs about dragging his knuckles along the ground behind him.
hope he gets a long one..
Fantastic news for Coq… But I don’t know how to feel about this because with Arteta, Coq and Bielik here next season we’re almost certainly not buying anyone marquee for the position. DM is one of the areas where we could make a BIG upgrade.
I agree that we could upgrade in that area – but its still great that Coquelin looks like he’ll sign. Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater… or something.
Still space for one more. Flamini is out in June. Arteta probably only has one year left in him. Bielik is a year younger than Zelalem! Unless he is truly awesome it’ll be a bit before he is in the 1st team regularly. Arsene also has no issue playing two DMs in games that require it.
So the Coq extension doesn’t rule out a new buy I don’t think. I reckon there is still space for a Carvalho/Schneiderlin/Goldilocks DM…
Mind you, chances are we’ll buy another short tricky CAM to compete with Ozil, Caz, Jack etc. 😉
Unless of course Chambers is the long-term DM…
If Coquelin continues playing like that, and I have no reason to think that he won’t, we don’t need to bring in a marquee signing, Schneiderlin can come in and then we’re done. Unless Schneiderlin counts as a marquee signing, I guess he’ll be 20m+ and from a top 6 club.
If you think Coquelin is up to the job of regular first choice DM, then we don’t need Schneiderlin. Instead, we should keep Flamini for another 2 years.
However, and I’ve said this before here, I don’t think you can yet say that Coquelin is definitely good enough for that role. There is still a bit to prove. So, at this very moment, I would like a DM upgrade in the summer, but I am ready to be proven wrong between now and the end of the season.
No, Arteta is old and injury-riddled and Bielik is young and untested, whilst Flamini doesn’t seem to be up to snuff this season. We have already seen that Wenger is happy to play two ‘DMs’ in games before, so it wouldn’t be 4 guys for 1 position, it would be more like 6/7 for 2 positions. So, we would have Coq/Schneiderlin as first choice to play with Rambo (when fit), a young guy to develop as backup, and an experienced head to have around. That seems like a good combo to me. Coq has till the summer to prove it,… Read more »
I think Arteta is injury-riddled because he has had to play so much. With less playing time he’ll be fitter, and age shouldn’t affect him too much as his game is more about passing and ball retention.
And it goes without saying that Coquelin has made huge strides forwards this season, but he’s only played a handful games and it’s too hard to say at this point.
Is there room for Coquelin, Ramsey, Wilshere, Arteta, Bielik and Schneiderlin vying for two positions? Given our injury record, you’re probably right actually.
I agree with that, being a bit-part player will help him stay more fresh, much like Tommy, and then he’s a useful guy to have around. Giroud needs someone to discuss hair styling with at the very least, who’s going to fulfil that role? Gabriel?
Glad about this signing, but if we really want to challenge against the Real Madrids and Bayern Munichs of this world then a world class defensive midfielder is still needed in the summer, with Coquelin a very good back up. Caveat that with Coquelin has until summer to prove me wrong. I also think we still need a world class centre back in the summer, someone to build your team around in the mold of early Kompany, Stam, Lahm etc. We have the money now, its time to set our sights higher
I think our Coq is up to being a squad player, and replacing Flamini in that role, at the very least. That still leaves room for Schneiderlin to come in maybe, and for our other new midfielder to take over from Arteta.
This was the point I was trying to make in the other article. Even if flamini leaves, there isn’t space for a new DM. Schnederlin is 26; coq will be 24. Think back to round about 07-08 when wenger refused to sign alonso because he didn’t want to “stifle” Denilson’s development. Coq isn’t going to sign a renewal to be second/third choice behind new DM and Arteta.
That is Coqtastic news!
I wish I could get a coq extension.
Sign da ting.
It’s good to see coq thrusted in at the deep end
When the Coq reaches 100%, he will explode.
I hope he signs. I can’t imagine what it would be like to get a new Coq.
let’s hope the Coq doesn’t pull out
The amount of times I’ve said that title and been told to wait means I’ll not be confident until it’s signed, done and dusted.
Coq on!
when le Coq extends we won’t be licking wounds
love the title, that what my wife says when i am drunk. 🙂
It would have been hard on the coq if he didn’t get an extension.
With our coq tied down, the only way is up…. Errrrr
coq is like muscle; use it or lose it.
Coq’ing hell, I’m Coq-a-hoop at that news.
Coq the hammer it’s time for action
I think Asier Illarramendi is a better option than Schneiderlin. I also think that’s why arteta is getting an extension. It seems wenger’s plan is to bring in Illarramendi in the summer and then get a year of tutelage under arteta at playing the creative/defensive midfielder role. we have enough midfielders in the ‘destroyer’ role.
But where do you get Larramendi from (R Madrid, I know) but has Arsene specifically mentioned him? Or Schneiderlin for that matter? And the jury is out as to whether we need either of them, its arguable either way. Lets wait and see, I am sensing some entitlement issues from a section of ‘fans’, that would be the whinge -ers and even some of the #wengerout crew; although there has been a welcome silence from that lot recently. Long may it continue…
ooops, I meant Real Sociadad, apologies. Not Real Madrid.
No I didn’t I meant Real Madrid!
That’s an awful big leap of logic in’t it? Arteta gets an extension and the reason must obviously be that Illarramendi is coming in the summer?
It could also mean, and I don’t have to make any leaps here, that Wenger won’t buy a DM this summer because he will have such a great collection of players who can play there that he won’t need one until Summer 2016 at the earliest, and by then Arteta will have passed on his wisdom to le Coq, Chambers, Bielik and Wilshire.
A bird in hand here… I believe that if a player of Coquelin’s ability was brought in for £10m -£15m, pundits would be hailing his performance. But here we are with one already “in the house” and some are doubting if he is the answer long term. I am personally satisfied with him.
I’m 99% happy with this news.
Through getting stuck in with surprising thrust, combined with some slick lovely balls and an overall improved technique, watch as the coqs beautiful form is close to resulting in an unexpected contract, the coqs first in a number of years. It’s a proud moment for the one who up to now had been trying to work out how use his coq effectively, in harmony with others for years now (since he first discovered the coq) and he had pretty much given up all hope of the coq doing anything good for him ever, just letting him down. and was almost… Read more »
Eh no, Arsene W simply wanted him to experience more playing time in the UK leagues. I know his contract was running down, but Wenger hadn’t shut the door already. Some are talking as if its an accident that Le Coq is still at The mighty Arsenal. Guess what, it isn’t!
I think you’ve been trying to force it a bit too hard.
His recent great performances allow him to play a bit of hardball. Hopefully Arsene doesn’t rub the coq the wrong way.
Really good news, Wenger himself has said that he could see how much he had improved hence the loan to Charlton for playing time. Schneiderlin, a striker and maybe an additional defender in the summer and our squad really does look awesome, quality all around with more than enough competition for places. Also would mean we have lots of different options which would mean we are less predictable and can change our game up if needs be for specific games (City away). Win a trophy again this season and it’s good times to be a gooner!
Great news. Cannot see Wenger pinning all of his DM hopes on Coq next season so don’t think this will stop us signing Schneiderlin. Crystal clear that Arteta or Flamini cannot be relied on. No way we would have won at City with Arteta or Flamini ahead of Coq. Still think both Arteta and Flamini won’t be here next season.
Why wouldn’t he sign a lucrative extension? Better than going out the door to Charlton level of club. His fortune has really turned around lately. I just hope he doesn’t turn into another Bendtner. If he can maintain this level of performance great. Lets hope its not just a single purple patch though.
It’s good to see Arsene appreciates our Coq
I think arsene appreciates his coq…
“We’ve got a big fucking Frenchman, big fucking French …. man”
He wouldn’t have a new contract without several solid performances
LANC
LANC!! (Like a new Coq)
or GLANS?
He has been a solid Coq and will only get harder with an added extension 🙂
That was a Coq up Skinny Arse.
Sorry, couldn’t help myself. Sometimes you just have to get stuck in and go for it.
I noted when he came on v Brighton, that he quickly made a significant input to the defensive stability.
I have faith in this geezer.
I agree, this can only be a good thing for Arsenal. All the Coq puns aside, the lad’s been a revelation this last month. I see no reason why it wouldn’t continue.
This has made my Coq … I mean day.
Can’ wait for AW to show of his Coq to Moutherfeker
Flamini is no where as bad as he is made out. Coquelin could have had 3 reds for 3 two footed tackles against Stoke. Had it been Flamini there would be a lot of whinging. Coquelin also needs to improve his passing which is as yet not as good as Flamini who has improved on his since Arteta went out to injury. If anything the Brighton game prove to illustrate very little other than the fault has been an unfamiliar backline. There was much whinging about Metersecker being ‘slow as mud’ but in truth,Koscielny (who has been lauded) was equally… Read more »
Shows you have no idea of what you’re talking about if you think arteta will be sold ahead of flamini.
Gustavo has not “flattered to deceive for a while”, he has been better than what we had for the last 2 seasons. There’s a reason why he was linked with madrid and your hero flamini wasn’t.
Schnederlin is more like an aggresive version of arteta; he is what our midfield needs at the moment.