The weekend just gone felt like Groundhog Day for Arsenal. Another away game against a title rival went by in which they were embarrassed by the hosts, missed multiple opportunities and put further pressure on Arsène Wenger. It was truly a damning summary of where Arsenal are currently at, their problems and how to resolve such issues going forward, namely the ‘influence’ of individual players.
Alexis Sanchez struggled to repeat his clinical display in the previous match against Chelsea; Petr Cech put in a questionable performance and Francis Coquelin failed to fulfill his duties as a defensive midfielder. The Frenchman yet again looked completely out of depth in Arsenal’s midfield.
Coquelin Proves Again He Is Unfit For Arsenal
With Mohamed Elneny away at the Africa Cup of Nations and Granit Xhaka serving a suspension, the 25-year-old was tasked with protecting Arsenal’s defence, minimising offensive Chelsea moves and targeting the likes of Eden Hazard, Diego Costa and Pedro.
Yet the midfielder failed to do any of these things. He comically bounced off a surging Hazard, who went on to score a fabulous goal, persistently made clumsy challenges and hid in plain sight, only offering sideways passes and failing to accept passes from his defenders. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also suffered as a result, restricting his offensive passing and movements to rescue Coquelin and help cover.
Compare his performance to N’Golo Kanté, who protected his back line, intercepted Arsenal attacks and ensured his presence was felt in a dominate Chelsea side. When Arsene Wenger remarked he approached Leicester to sign the tireless midfielder, one wonders how different this season could have been.
Coquelin has always been a short-term solution for a long-term problem. Critics and fans believed Arsenal’s midfield lacked a dominating midfielder to fill defensive gaps, pressurise dangerous players and slow down dangerous opposition moves. Coquelin’s energetic and tough presence in a 2-0 away win against Manchester City, however, suggested he could be that figure and offer Arsenal a ‘Plan B’ in pivotal fixtures. His performances further convinced Wenger to purchase more physical central midfielders in Elneny and Xhaka to add further steel and grit, yet this created another problem.
As Arsenal’s midfield became more lean, stronger and diverse, Coquelin stood out like a sore thumb, not offering the same passing range as Xhaka or industrious displays like Elneny. To his credit, Coquelin has managed to form a resilient partnership with Elneny, likely due to their mutual understanding, similar styles of play and sharing defensive duties. In turn, this highlights his inability to be a midfield’s sole defensive player or a designated water carrier, often crumbling under pressure or panicking, causing to make drastic challenges.
In a team that demands intelligent game reading, multitasking, expansive passing and dominance of possession, the Frenchman falls short in multiple areas and is a far cry from the days of Gilberto Silva: the yardstick against which all Arsenal holding midfielders should be measured. Sadly, it seems, his good attitude does not mask misjudged tackles or poor positional awareness.
Poor performances against Chelsea, Manchester United and Everton highlight how limited Coquelin can and while he can provide some defensive help, his contributions can be bettered by Elneny and Xhaka. When he cannot be relied upon as Arsenal’s commanding and protective figure, his contribution to the squad must be questioned.
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