For many he’s a liability waiting to get sent off, for others he’s the definitive cog in our defensive machinery – but for all of us he’s Francis Coquelin.
Whether you like him or not, the Arsenal midfielder has always given 110% for this club and has now revealed he wants to stay here for the rest of his career.
At 25 the Frenchman is no longer the ‘hot prospect’ we were waiting for and has now settled into the starting XI as one of Wenger’s regulars in that central defensive duo.
When we think of Coquelin we cast our minds back to that performance at Manchester City during the 2014/15 campaign, and what was seen as a once desperate option has now become a concrete rock.
Despite spending multiple spells out on loan to the likes of Freiburg and Charlton, Coquelin is now beginning to adapt his game into a more attacking role following Santi Cazorla’s injury.
Whilst speaking to France’s leading news outlet, L’Equipe, Coquelin was asked whether he could see himself playing for a bigger club one day:
Even higher? Even bigger? That doesn’t leave me with very many clubs.
I think I’m already at a very, very big club and I am a person who is loyal to my club. I came here very young, I owe them a lot.
So from the moment things are done well, my inclination is to stay at Arsenal for as long as possible. But then there has to be that desire on both sides.
Spending the rest of my career at Arsenal would make me very proud.
It’s great news for Arsene Wenger, who has been a massive fan of Coquelin since day one and ensured he made the right decisions that would effect the midfielders future.
There’s still a lot to work on though, and if he is going to be recognised as Arsenal’s number one defensive mid he’ll have to convince us he’s a better option than Granit Xhaka.
Arsenal’s summer signing has been a massive hit with the supporters and his versatility in defence and attack, as well as long ball distribution is what makes him a better option than Coquelin.
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