The 2014/15 season has been very much a campaign of two contrasting halves, as Arsenal have U-turned their turbulent pre-Christmas form immensely. There are three significant surprise factors, which have contributed to the club’s turn in fortunes as of late.
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Francis Coquelin
The 23-year old’s career at North London seemed to be hanging on the ropes earlier this season, but during a period of growing injury crisis back in December, with the likes of Mikel Arteta, Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey sidelined, it was indeed during his short time at Charlton when Arsene Wenger re-called his fellow Frenchman back to the club.
In all honesty, this was indeed the sensible decision but no one expected Coquelin to shine the way he has ever since. His first appearance came during a 4-1 victory at home to Newcastle, but it wasn’t until the hard-fought away win at West Ham that Coquelin started the first of many games that followed.
The stats speak volumes regarding the team’s form with and without the Frenchman in the side, having a 85% win ratio of 11 wins to 2 losses with Coquelin present, in comparison to a 44% win ratio of 8 wins to 6 draws and 4 loses in his absence.
He adds sufficient balance and bite in the middle in comparison to his more experience team-mates, making 4.5 tackles and 4.0 interceptions per game, eclipsing the efforts of Arteta and Mathieu Flamini.
It was once the great Sir Alex Ferguson, who commented on the then inexperienced midfielder’s début saying, “he was completely out of his depth”. Now, arguably one of Arsenal’s player of the season candidates, this young man has been the steel Arsenal have lacked since the days of Patrick Vieira and Gilberto Silva.