Francis Coquelin: No Longer Needed?

[Taylor Gang Gunners]

It's a shame we had so few central options against Chelski, if we had the full set I think Coquelin would've been dropped.

It's not as if he's getting outclassed by top opposition every week. He made Capoue look like Vidal ffs.

 

[Trilly]

It's funny this game of football. He looked destined for a lower league career then somehow appeared to be good enough to start for a top 4 side, looks like he isn't after all.

The Jamie Vardy type stories are rare in football, Coquelin has reverted to the player that wasn't good enough for Arsenal. Makes me wonder what could have been if we actually paired Cazorla with another quality midfielder.

 

[Taylor Gang Gunners]

It's funny this game of football. He looked destined for a lower league career then somehow appeared to be good enough to start for a top 4 side, looks like he isn't after all.

The Jamie Vardy type stories are rare in football, Coquelin has reverted to the player that wasn't good enough for Arsenal. Makes me wonder what could have been if we actually paired Cazorla with another quality midfielder.

We played Xhaka-Santi for a couple of games and we looked brilliant.

For me, Coquelin is in a bit of a catch 22. Because we have a manager who doesn't excel in setting up teams defensively, a player of Coquelin's ilk is tasked with a lot of responsibility to keep us solid. Sadly, ability wise, we're demanding too much from him.

Btw, congrats on being expunged from The List of Taylor. You don't belong there.

 

[Hunter Zolomon]

Fabregas is more productive and dangerous than Cazorla AND Özil will ever be.

so what is your point? that both players have strengths and weaknesses?

 

[Silvinho's ball bag]

Would you have said the same straight after Cesc was dropped from Chelsea's squad after our 3-0 win at the start of the season and they went on an 11 game winning run?

Fabregas and Özil are both liabilities - neither have any athleticism or strength and they don't defend.

But Fabregas gets on the ball at every opportunity and he is a final ball machine. Handy goalscorer too.

Özil is extremely overrated and no good for the shambles that is our setup.

 

[Hunter Zolomon]

Fabregas and Özil are both liabilities - neither have any athleticism or strength and they don't defend.

But Fabregas gets on the ball at every opportunity and he is a final ball machine. Handy goalscorer too.

Özil is extremely overrated and no good for the shambles that is our setup.

fabregas is looking like a superior player, for all his defensive frailties, fabregas can play in a midfield 3 and is a better goal scorer and arguably passer than Özil.

 

[albakos]

For Coquelin, I think it's actually quite simple:

He's here with us playing regularly for over two years. Even for a defensive midfielder, he does not have a single assist, let alone a goal to his name.

His off the ball positioning is very conservative, he does not make himself available for a pass nor does he make any smart run to create spaces for others. At start of this season, he made some Flaminiesque-mazy runs ahead which seemed to serve like a decoy for him to drag others around and make space for Cazorla, but it proved to be shortlived.

The fact that on big matches this season, he's constantly overwhelmed in midfield, tells a story that he is way below par for us to be a starter.

That shameless attempt and down-on-his-arse move from Hazard should be enough for Wenger to send him to bench at earliest convenience. And as you know it wasn't the first time that happened. On previous game, he was muscled out by Capoue on second goal and he also had a very similar fumble in trying to stop Dembele v. Sp**s at Emirates from which a penalty ensued.

#DrainTheDross #MAGA

 

[The Gooner]

^ Agree 100% with this. Coq and Ramsey should be nowhere near our first team! They are squad players at best. I say we sell them both while we still can make some money from them. Ramsey at least scores some goals here and there but Coq has been absolutely terrible for quite some time now. I'd say he's my least favourite Gunner this season.

 

[cloista]

He's been awful most of the season. Fact is he's a defender playing in midfield and that is very obvious.

 

[Hunter Zolomon]

He's been awful most of the season. Fact is he's a defender playing in midfield and that is very obvious.

didnt he start his career as a right back? its showing, maybe he should be back up to bellerin.

 

[celestis]

We played Xhaka-Santi for a couple of games and we looked brilliant.

For me, Coquelin is in a bit of a catch 22. Because we have a manager who doesn't excel in setting up teams defensively, a player of Coquelin's ilk is tasked with a lot of responsibility to keep us solid. Sadly, ability wise, we're demanding too much from him.

Btw, congrats on being expunged from The List of Taylor. You don't belong there.

Yes said after Watford that is my favourite pairing . Xhaka sprays the ball long allows Cazorla to then move up the field and dictate from there.

 

[razörist]

Xhaka would have taken Hazard out no matter what. Probably got a red too though.

 

[celestis]

It's funny this game of football. He looked destined for a lower league career then somehow appeared to be good enough to start for a top 4 side, looks like he isn't after all.

The Jamie Vardy type stories are rare in football, Coquelin has reverted to the player that wasn't good enough for Arsenal. Makes me wonder what could have been if we actually paired Cazorla with another quality midfielder.

Have to say though Trilly , he's been a part of our best victories in the last two years . City , United away and at home and of course Bayern. He definitely didn't look out of place then .

 

[Penn_]

It's a shame we had so few central options against Chelski, if we had the full set I think Coquelin would've been dropped.

It's not as if he's getting outclassed by top opposition every week. He made Capoue look like Vidal ffs.

Wouldn't be so sure about that. Like Theo, his started basically every game when fit.

Although that's probably because of the ready made partnership with Cazorla.

 

[samshere]

Xhaka would have taken Hazard out no matter what. Probably got a red too though.

Yes, a funny pair of dm's we got. One can't foul, and the other goes overboard while fouling.

 

[Trilly]

Xhaka would have taken Hazard out no matter what. Probably got a red too though.

 

[Trilly]

Have to say though Trilly , he's been a part of our best victories in the last two years . City , United away and at home and of course Bayern. He definitely didn't look out of place then .

I know right...strange. Like an extended honey moon period, I guess Cazorla deserves a lot more credit.

 

[Silvinho's ball bag]

Have to say though Trilly , he's been a part of our best victories in the last two years . City , United away and at home and of course Bayern. He definitely didn't look out of place then .

Coq was playing as a shield last season and the one before. That's where he looks like an elite DM.

This season he's all over the place and it doesn't suit him one jot.

If Wenger continues to give him this kind of role he's of zero use to us.

 

[celestis]

I know right...strange. Like an extended honey moon period, I guess Cazorla deserves a lot more credit.

Yup and most people gripe about being overrun with Caz there but how many goals have we conceded with him there compared to the other combos I gotta hunch its the least .

 

[redwhiteAustrian]

"Fence"