Francis Coquelin, one off or genuine midfield option for us this season?: Page 10 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One More in the Tolly

Francis Coquelin, one off or genuine midfield option for us this season?

Patters

That's good news, I suppose. Hope he can consistently perform as he has done so far.

On the 'this means we won't get a new DM', a lot will depend on what happens with Flamini (and to a lesser extent, Arteta). The club didn't make it clear that he signed last season for 3 years, it was assumed. Arseblog and a couple of other news sites report he is out of contract this summer. Also talk that he was signed on a 2 year contract with the club having the option to extend another year, which conveniently fills the gap in info.

Jeremy Wilson says we've offered Arteta (who is out of contract this summer) a one year deal. Wonder if the club are ruthless enough to take that off the table if his current injury problems don't look promising.

Diaby is off our books too this summer so overall definitely space for one more. If the club are continuing with their one worldie a summer transfer policy, it has to be in that area now.

Clrnc

I feel sorry for Diaby but his time must surely be up after Wenger's comments and rightly so. Probably should retire too. 16 matches in 4 years is worse than even Owen Hargreaves could imagine.

I would keep Arteta around just for his leadership and experience. Flamini can be replaced by the world class DM we are targeting or whatever.

Wenger's comments on Cazorla is very positive for me too. Pretty slim chance he will be shunted on the wings.

flobaba

marv3llous wrote:
Weng appreciating what a DM does 😃

About bloody time.

This also goes to show that you don't have to be "world class" to make a difference in a position - just understand what the role is, and provide the basic requirements. A lot of people were against a "dedicated DM", saying the game has progressed beyond that. Nonsense I say.

You can have your Xabi Alonsos or an Arteta adding their expansive passing and fancy double pivote mastery or whatever, just gimme a Makalele, a Gilberto, a Gattuso, even a Wanyama- a ball winner, a pure defensive shield, and I'm satisfied. These players may be "limited" to some in terms of the modern game, but for me they bring essential battling qualities to the midfield which is a must have for any team.

Bold Tone

After the past few weeks, i don't think anyone who watches Arsenal can deny his influence. If his play gets us the prize, i wouldn't care less if he had played for a new contract, shop window or whatever as before he came back, Alexis apart, it wasn't going well.

Rex

What I like the most about Coquelin, and it is the same with Flamini in fairness, is that he takes pride in his defending. He likes the physical battle, and he actually looks as if he ENJOYS defending. He doesn't treat defending as a 'necessary evil', and he doesn't seem to have an uncontrollable urge to 'express himself' or to chase goals.

flobaba

See Rex, that's what I talk about when I say a player has certain natural instincts. He is playing to his natural game, and he's flourishing

Move Coquelin up 20 yards into the attacking third, and he most likely becomes a liability.

So when people call for players like Ramsey to curtail their offensive instincts, and just sit back, it not only deprives the team of a strong offensive weapon, it also means weakening the team defensively as well as he can only do so much on that end of the pitch.

With Coq in the team, the balance seems just right.

Now I'm eager to see if/how Ozil fits in upon his return to the side.

Bold Tone

Good point. Everybody, apart from Alexis, were played in their more natural positions and it worked a treat.

Rex

Alexis himself says that he is comfortable all across the front line, but if he HAS to choose a position, then he chooses that left flank where he can cut in on his stronger foot.

Bold Tone

Good news for us as the right side is stacked with Theo, Ox, Gnabry and even Ozil.
However do you think it makes it easier if the defender knows, in advance, which way he is more likely to go?

QuincyAbeyie

Probably should help, but don't think it helps when it's someone as good as Alexis. Robben always goes left.

Rex

Alexis doesn't just cut in though, does he? He is equally comfortable beating his marker on the outside.

I also reject the notion that we are stacked in our wing positions; the way I see it we should have one more top class player for that position in addition to Chambo, Walcott and Alexis. Gnabry doesn't count for me, and Özil should never play there unless we have a massive injury crisis.

Clrnc

Rex wrote:
Alexis doesn't just cut in though, does he? He is equally comfortable beating his marker on the outside.

He doesn't go to the byline if he plays on the left. He is as one footed as it gets.

Qwiss

Rex wrote:
Alexis doesn't just cut in though, does he? He is equally comfortable beating his marker on the outside.

I also reject the notion that we are stacked in our wing positions; the way I see it we should have one more top class player for that position in addition to Chambo, Walcott and Alexis. Gnabry doesn't count for me, and Özil should never play there unless we have a massive injury crisis.

I agree on the wings. It'd be fine if you could rely on Theo all season but thats just not reality. That said its still a ways down the list of needs.

innervisionscm

Wilshere is our first XI right winger.

RocktheCasbah

He clearly isn't.

Kel Varnsen

Walcott is. As it should be.

Anzac

flobaba wrote:
marv3llous wrote:
Weng appreciating what a DM does 😃

About bloody time.

This also goes to show that you don't have to be "world class" to make a difference in a position - just understand what the role is, and provide the basic requirements. A lot of people were against a "dedicated DM", saying the game has progressed beyond that. Nonsense I say.

You can have your Xabi Alonsos or an Arteta adding their expansive passing and fancy double pivote mastery or whatever, just gimme a Makalele, a Gilberto, a Gattuso, even a Wanyama- a ball winner, a pure defensive shield, and I'm satisfied. These players may be "limited" to some in terms of the modern game, but for me they bring essential battling qualities to the midfield which is a must have for any team.

However AW's recent comments about the Citeh game not changing our style or philosophy means we are more likely to see Arteta start when available, and if so then Aw will still likely look for a DLP ball player who can defend as opposed to a DM who can pass.

Kel Varnsen

Really starting to grow on me. Great energy, hard tackling and pretty good on the ball as well. Good decisions and accuracy on the ball.

Jed

Quality player.

Biggus

Ix the ucking idfield Wenger, you diot!

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