In a game of such importance, very few players in the loss to Spurs played to the level we expect at Arsenal. Francis Coquelin was one of the few who could walk away with something, even though as a team we left with nothing. He was subbed off in the 88th minute for Chuba Akpom as Arsenal searched for an equaliser having gone 2-1 down after 85 minutes.
The French engine received a rating of 7.95 – WhoScored.com.
In a valiant attempt to shield the back four, Coquelin made 4 tackles and 9 interceptions. That’s the most interceptions made by a player in a single game in the league this season. He made just the 1 block and with heavy pressure from the opposition’s attack clearances were required (3). Coquelin committed only one foul and won one during his time on the pitch.
Francis Coquelin: No player has made more interceptions in a PL match this season than Coquelin did vs Tottenham (9) pic.twitter.com/C2Wyfi038z
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) February 8, 2015
Francis had 55 touches of the ball, and with those touches he made 32 passes. His pass accuracy was the highest for the red and white. (78.1%). He also enjoyed success in aerial duels winning two out of 3 (67%) against Harry Kane & Moussa Dembele. Dribbling skills not bad either, completing two take-ons in deep lying positions against the same players.
I can only hope he can continue to produce these performances, if not better, and everyone else around him does the same, then the results will follow.