The Francis Coquelin appreciation thread

[mistermagic]

French media are going ape shit about his performance against Villa (that's right, Villa) but he looks to have gained significant experience at Freiburg and Lorient. Maybe Arsenal don't need to buy a DM after all.

 

[Mustard]

His passing is a bit suspect but he's a huge upgrade on Flamini and Arteta in the protection he gives our defense. He gets a bit angry as well which I like, we need more personalities like that. It's his awareness and positioning that's really impressed me the most.

I'd still like to see us get a DM of, quote Wenger, top, top quality (somebody a bit more dynamic like Schneiderlin, basically a Arteta replacement rather than Flamini replacement) but I think Coquelin has shown he has a place here. Flamini will be gone in the summer so Coquelin + one other for DM will be a good balance I think. Arteta may stay another year but I think he's more or less done as he keeps getting injured.

Bit strange for them to go ape shit after the Villa match, he was good but against City he was superb.

 

[mistermagic]

I didn't watch today's game but I watched the City one and Coquelin didn't particularly stand out: every single Arsenal player was outstanding in that game.

 

[Haddock]

I miss him

 

[Abertawe]

Yeah, good player.

 

[Avatar]

Hope everyone backs him when he starts to dip, only natural when you play a bunch of games. I think he'll be great as long as he doesnt dwell on the ball, he has to distribute it quickly otherwise we'll get caught out. He's been phenomenal though.

He has something to say to his haters too: https://vine.co/v/OdwtaD5VTP7

 

[smat]

His distribution is very iffy but he's a good destroyer, bit like Flamini before he turned rubbish. Still has a lot to prove imo but he's been in good form since coming back.

 

[sl1k]

Hope everyone backs him when he starts to dip, only natural when you play a bunch of games. I think he'll be great as long as he doesnt dwell on the ball, he has to distribute it quickly otherwise we'll get caught out. He's been phenomenal though.

He has something to say to his haters too: https://vine.co/v/OdwtaD5VTP7

That vine made me LOL

 

[SC49]

I know it was only Aston Villa but he was unreal against them. His positioning is good, he's great at winning the ball back/breaking up play and he keeps things extremely simple whenever he's on the ball (basically looks for the pass immediately which is absolutely the right thing to do as a defensive midfielder). He never gets forward either, stays his ground and protects the back four.

Those are all very simple things but it's something we've been missing for years. I'm not sure he's the answer long-term but he's had a really big impact on the squad and the way we've played since he returned so fair play to him.

 

[Whitechapel]

Simple things like playing a through ball to Bellerin and immediately replacing his position at RB while Bellerin flies down the wing.

He could be the answer long term, as long as this isn't a 10 game form flair and he sticks to how he's playing then the future is bright.

 

[thespus]

He's a limited version of what Arsenal fans, as well as outsiders, have been clamouring for and I hope he keeps it up. I can't ever see him being entrenched in our first XI, but if we are to sign a Schneiderlin, having Coquelin in this form as cover would be excellent.

Hector Bellerin needs an appreciation thread. The Olive Pele ought to do the trick.

 

[mistermagic]

Bellerin is a stand-in for Debuchy though. Coquelin could land a first-team spot.

 

[Storzy]

I don't think there is anything wrong with Coquelin's passing. However his touch can let him down and that means he's forced into rushing his passes. When he's got time or gets his first touch right, then the pass that follows is normally okay.

Hopefully he can improve on that and maintain the same level of performance with the rest of his game and then he could be the long term answer to our DM problem.

 

[Avatar]

I think it will be interesting against spurs who press very high up, they might target Coquelin because he's our deepest player, will be a good test for him.

 

[mistermagic]

Signed a 4-year deal today. His current contract was ending this June. Must have had a hefty pay rise as well. Well done Francis!

 

[SamScfc]

Agree he's been good but did anyone watch arsenalfantv after the villa game? They were absolutely off their tits, you'd have thought they'd just gone to the Bernabeu and bossed Real Madrid off the park. It was hilariously delusional when you consider they didn't even play half as well as they were making out.

 

[Whitechapel]

Agree he's been good but did anyone watch arsenalfantv after the villa game? They were absolutely off their tits, you'd have thought they'd just gone to the Bernabeu and bossed Real Madrid off the park. It was hilariously delusional when you consider they didn't even play half as well as they were making out.

Passionately celebrating a big win, shame on them.

 

[SamScfc]

Passionately celebrating a big win, shame on them.

Don't talk shite, you know that wasn't what I was saying at all.

 

[Whitechapel]

Don't talk shite, you know that wasn't what I was saying at all.

Then I read into what you wrote incorrectly.

 

[SamScfc]

Then I read into what you wrote incorrectly.

You did. My point was they were going way over the top, one minute it's all doom and gloom, a 5-0 home win over Villa who are awful and you could win the league, Wenger is a god, you don't need any more signing, Coquelin is the next Vieira. Let's also remember you didn't play that well, you just came up against a shocking team.

 

[smat]

I'm a Coq-sceptic. It's not so long ago he was considered deadwood. Memories of Bendtner's £52,000 a week contract ticking down for two years are all too recent...

 

[thespus]

You did. My point was they were going way over the top, one minute it's all doom and gloom, a 5-0 home win over Villa who are awful and you could win the league, Wenger is a god, you don't need any more signing, Coquelin is the next Vieira. Let's also remember you didn't play that well, you just came up against a shocking team.

Villa were shocking, but we played quite well—it's inarguable.

Any Arsenal fan saying we could win the league or that Coquelin is the new Vieira is among a small minority. Let's not go pretending a small sample size on ArsenalFanTv (obviously these types are the rollercoaster of emotions) is representative of the feelings of a whole fan base, particularly one of the biggest in England.

Seems a strange gripe to bring up when no Arsenal fan here is saying these things.

 

[thespus]

I'm a Coq-sceptic. It's not so long ago he was considered deadwood. Memories of Bendtner's £52,000 a week contract ticking down for two years are all too recent...

I agree. I think he's in a good run of form and could prove a good squad player to have around, but a Schneiderlin-type signing should be priority number one in the summer if we are to improve.

 

[Whitechapel]

Hopefully he'll be playing in an awesome batman protective mask tonight...

 

[Avatar]

Villa were shocking, but we played quite well—it's inarguable.

Any Arsenal fan saying we could win the league or that Coquelin is the new Vieira is among a small minority. Let's not go pretending a small sample size on ArsenalFanTv (obviously these types are the rollercoaster of emotions) is representative of the feelings of a whole fan base, particularly one of the biggest in England.

Seems a strange gripe to bring up when no Arsenal fan here is saying these things.

....wait... are you saying we aren't going to win the league?

because we totally are.

 

[Ligue 1 fan]

I've seen him play a few times, he's ok. Still feel Arsenal need a quality DM.
Gonalons for example..

 

[Mustard]

Got to say whilst I was a little sceptical when he just came back into the team, he's definitely growing on me.

In his first few games, although his defending was very good, his all around play, particularly passing, wasn't quite up to scratch, but he does seem to be getting much better by the game, especially on the ball. I think with Flamini leaving in the summer, Coq is the natural replacement, but with Arteta's legs going I would like to see us bring in another DM in the summer, albeit somebody is a bit more 'rangey' and physical, a Vieira type who can play a bit further forward as well (Schneiderlin, Kondogbia, Pogba would be the wet dream).

 

[Avatar]

Coqslapped Fellaini and his nose again MOTM.

 

[Skinner]

 

[Son of Cod]

Wow, she looks quite a bit like an ex-girlfriend of mine.