Arsene Wenger has revealed that Francis Coquelin’s recent success at Arsenal is down to the fact that the defensive midfielder finally identified what he is good at and worked on his strengths.
The 23-year-old French midfielder joined Charlton on loan this November before Wenger surprisingly called him back to the Emirates as a cover for the injured Aaron Ramsey in December.
After a few substitute appearances, Coquelin was selected to start the league match against West Ham on 28th December and he played a key role in Arsenal winning a close game at Upton Park. The Frenchman retained his place in the starting eleven and has been influential in the Gunners’ recent run of good form in the league.
The Arsenal boss feels Coquelin’s rise in the Arsenal team is down to the fact that the midfielder finally understood his own game and decided to play within his limitations.
Rather than being a box-to-box midfielder, Coquelin remodelled his game as a defensive shield in front of the back four and has excelled in that role at Arsenal this season.
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“I think he analysed well what he is good at, defending in midfield”, Wenger told the club’s official site.
“He was in between the playmaking position and being a box-to-box player, but he is not that – he's a sitting player who can win the ball.
“He restricted his game to that and you make success in life with what you're good at. You don't have all the qualities, but you have to express what you're good at and he's good at that.”
The Frenchman may again start when Arsenal take an away trip to Loftus Road to take on Queens Park Rangers later tonight, despite having broken his nose at the weekend.
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