Watching the Arsenal –QPR game felt like same old same old for an Arsenal fan, which can be summarized as watching the team dominate the play yet ruing on the fact that they were not clinical enough to take the game away from the opponents. But the biggest glimmer of hope that the game gave (except for the fact that the teams above Arsenal, all dropped points) was a stout performance by Francis Coquelin who filled in for Arsenal’s makeshift left back for the night, Thomas Vermaelen. Arsenal till that moment were not quite in command of the game and losing Vermaelen in the midst of that was a big blow, but Coquelin who has been handed a few high profile games (including facing United and Spurs away) this season was called upon for filling in at left back, which is not his natural position. The 20-year-old French youngster stood up to the test while defending and showed his keenness going forward. This was reminiscent of how another Frenchman, Mathieu Flamini, made a name for himself in the game.
In a game where all the eyes were set upon Robin van Persie and his chance to beat Alan Shearer for the number of goals in a calendar year and to a certain extent on a legendary Frenchman who is on the verge of coming back to his old club, this young starlet was a bit overshadowed to say the least. Coquelin, who spent last year playing for the Ligue 1 side Lorient, was provided with a nice exposure playing at different position during his time in France. Coquelin has always been rated highly by Arsene Wenger and an indication of this is the fact that he is considered above Emmanuel Frimpong in the pecking order; consequently, the Ghanaian was recently loaned out to Wolves for some game time which he may not get at Emirates.
Coquelin is looking like a great utility squad player for Wenger, who had earlier deployed him as a right back in a tough away fixture at Villa Park. His adaptability and willingness to come on in adverse situations seem similar to Mathieu Flamini, who during his stay at Arsenal was seen as the “go-to man”. Flamini, despite playing second fiddle to Patrick Vieira and later to Gilberto Silva, was a crucial member of the squad in 2005-06 season. Similar to the current scenario, the Gunners were looking for players to fill in at left back. After unsuccessful trials by slotting players such as Sebastian Larsson and sundry, Wenger finally selected Flamini to do the job for him and Flamini helped Arsenal through with his tenacity and hard work in what was a momentous season that had the Gunners finish as runners-up in the Champions League.
With Alex Song providing the steel in the present Arsenal’s midfield, Coquelin may be looked as one for the future; the potential and the versatility is there to be seen. In what is expected to be a make-or-break period in the upcoming couple of months it would be the fringe players like Coquelin who will make the difference by stepping up whenever they are called upon.
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