Arsenal are set to offer Francis Coquelin a new contract according to The Mirror.
Coquelin’s current deal is due to expire at the end of the season and with Mikel Arteta, Abou Diaby and Mathieu Flamini’s contracts all due to end this summer, Arsenal have moved to secure Coquelin to a longer deal.
The 23-year-old has spent much of his time as an Arsenal player out on loan. He enjoyed spells at Lorient, Frieburg and most recently Charlton.
He has played for Arsenal in a number of positions, impressing at both left and right back as well as defensive midfield. It seems Wenger sees Coquelin as the ideal utility player to replace Flamini when his contract expires at the end of the season. After all, Coquelin is now ahead of Flamini in the pecking order.
Wenger re-called Coquelin in December after Arteta, Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey all picked up injuries. Since then, the tenacious midfielder has become a regular in Wenger’s starting eleven and has shown the attributes of a real defensive midfielder. He forgets about trying to score goals and just helps protect the Arsenal defence. Hopefully that protection will help when the Gunners face Manchester City on Sunday.
There were concerns over the Frenchman’s attitude but that seems to be behind him with the defensive midfielder now keen to become a first team regular for the Gunners.