Oxlade - Chamberlain came on soon after as well
for Coquelin as Wenger smelled victory and he nearly provided it with a burst and ball from the right and if Skrtel had not put it just wide then Walcott was ready to tap in.
A sudden but welcome revelation of Francis
Coquelin in December, after an unexpected return from his loan spell in Charlton, gave Arsenal a new face.
Ramsey is a leader, carzola as well, wilshere, mert, rosicky is fabulous, and we have the like
of coquelin who is very vocal and is full of grit.
It was bad enough before last weeks Man City match, when Wenger was questioned about why he played Francis
Coquelin as centre - back, alongside Monreal and Koscielny.
Francis
Coquelin didn't even get to play in our awful FA Cup display as he was in negotiations with Valencia, but Theo Walcott did play, and was slated for his performance by the Arsenal fans.
On 18 January 2015, Arsenal went away to the Etihad Stadium, and with Francis
Coquelin playing in a three - man midfield and Santi Cazorla excelling in a central midfield role, Arsenal soaked up pressure and hit City on the break, winning 2 - 0.
An advantage for the Gunners is that the Barcelona midfield will not be used to playing against a midfielder
like Coquelin on a weekly basis.
So I will welcome a top striker and a CDM because if
Coquelin gets injured we are exposed!
I agree, a 6 is a bit harsh for
Coquelin who didn't make as much errors as the author seems to make believe.
Our rotated defence will have the extra protection of tweo holding midfielders in the absence of
Coquelin at least, with Wenger going for Arteta and Flamini as a double pivot and it looks like Aaron Ramsey will be our number 10, with the Ox and Joel Campbell on either side of Olivier Giroud in attack.
I
think Coquelin needs ramsey energy to help in the middle of the pitch.
Cech Bellerin Koz Mertz Gabriel
Monreal Coquelin Elneny Ramsey (Santi) Campbell Ox Ozil Sanchez Giroud.
With
Coquelin back from injury the Gunners do not need more defensive solidity but more creativity and goal threat and even though the Swiss international has a good long range shot and has more goals than his Welsh teammate, Ramsey is the more attack minded player and his goal against Preston will hopefully lead to more.
The only absolute necessity is one more quality DM — Schneiderlin would be ideal because he'd be good
alongside Coquelin as well as rotating with him.
If the Boss did not get a top quality DM to sign or did not want to sign one who should play differently
from Coquelin by destroying the opponents attacking buildup from source.
I thought we'd destroy them, after
seeing Coquelin Cazorla Campbell and Chambers named in the line - up.
Def fault or Wenger for not replacing Cazorla properly and then
replacing Coquelin with Xhaka in the DM role?
If he wanted to select the team he did yesterday this is how we should have lined up Cech Bell Chambers Holding Monreal Elneny
Coquelin Ramsey Iwobi Alexis Walcott
One
said Coquelin looked lost in midfield at times, chasing shadows and the usual late tackle yellow.
Cech Bellerin Mertesaker Koscielny Monreal
Coquelin Elneny Ozil Campbell Alexis Welbeck.
Even when
Coquelin came on you saw what he done for the 4th goal, pressing Firminho along side two other of our players, neither can get the ball off him.
Flamini was a stop gap, that gap is now filled
by Coquelin so Flamini is done.
What you say is true, fans now are questioning moves for a DM
because coquelin did well, or a move for Sterling because we have Ox, or a ST because Theo can do a job there.
Cech Jenkinson Koscielny Mustafi Monreal
Xhaka Coquelin Walcott Ozil The Ox Alexis
And all this talk about Schnidelin as if he is the answer Wait till summer by
then Coquelin if he keeps it up will be in the French squad and then a world class player CB
Due to his old age, fatigue & injury could take it's tolls on him or sideline him before
even Coquelin comes back.
but we dnt have much of an option
so Coquelin still has to start but preferably with another DM to cover his recent short - comings.
Also for the mere fact that Stoke weren't much of a threat offensively in the last third I think
coquelin made more if an impact on the game and by virtue of that should be our MOTM.
Arsenal started with a broadly familiar midfield and front line, but yet another variation of the back four - with Francis
Coquelin starting at Right Back and Thomas Vermalen at Left Back.
In the first half though
Coquelin kept getting forward and Cazorla was playing deeper and I didn't like that but 2nd half he stayed to his position and played amazing.
Arsene Wenger has seen Francis
Coquelin go from strength to strength following his return to the first team, having been out on loan at Charlton Athletic, but the Arsenal manager may well still deem it necessary to bring in a stronger option to help provide some much needed steel in the centre of the park.
I am also a bit confused about why the badly out of form Granit Xhaka keeps starting
while Coquelin who has looked good is left on the bench, but as long as Arsenal win I could not really care less.
Even four weeks is not a good time for us to be
without Coquelin as we play Chelsea, Leicester City, Stoke and Liverpool in that time, so will this injury be a big problem for Arsebnal and our title challenge?
West brom hit the old nerve of Arsenal use physicality
after Coquelin injury Arteta is not worth it.
Just look at what he has available for his holding and attacking midfield right
now coquelin xhaka cazorla elneny wilshire ramsey hayden ozil toral chamberlain alexis wellington Campbell Iwobi walcott gnabry, that is 16 players and we are not sure flamini has left yet either, plus Welbeck often features out wide.
Him being as attacking minded as he is, he's neither mentally there to become a good DM (seeing
how Coquelin does not join the offense, even though we are pressing on, like vs. Swansea and Sunderland)