Five Things: How Arsenal Can Cope Without Coquelin
SillySeason’s five recommendations for how the Gunners can cope with latest injury blow
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger announced that Francis Coquelin would miss at least two months of action due to a severe knee injury, so SillySeason thought it would be good to look into how the Gunners can cope with the latest injury setback.
Since breaking into the first-team, Coquelin has been one of the stand-out performers for Arsenal and there is no surprise that the club’s form has improved since his inclusion.
He’s the exact midfielder that fans have been calling for for years and he’s finally made that spot his own.
However, ligament damage in his knee will now keep him out of action until the New Year and it leaves Arsenal in a very tricky situation.
Here are SillySeason‘s Five Things for how the Gunners may be able to cope.
5) Pray Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini Re-Find Form
Both midfielders have been good servants to Arsenal Football Club, but neither have been in form recently.
Mathieu Flamini starred in the White Hart Lane win during the Capital One Cup, but that was really it from him over the past couple of seasons.
As for Arteta, he has been solid for the Gunners since arriving from Everton, but it’s clear age has caught up with him and has taken a lot out of his game.
He had a nightmare when coming on against West Brom and his own-goal saw Arsenal lose the game.
First of all both these players need to keep fit, which looks unlikely considering their record, and even if they do manage to stay fit, they then need to re-find some form.
4) Use Calum Chambers
Arsene Wenger has already suggested it, and we think it would be a solid idea for Arsenal.
Calum Chambers is a versatile player and Arsenal need that now the most with their recent injury problems. Wenger has confirmed Chambers is trained to play in the centre of midfielder and now is his time to prove that.
Possibly a better option than both Mathieu Flamini and Mikel Arteta, and also it gives the youngster a chance to get a run of games in the first-team.
There is no reason why the Englishman can’t make the role his own.
3) Convert Aaron Ramsey?
As Francis Coquelin departs through injury, Arsenal did welcome back Aaron Ramsey, and maybe it’s time for him to sacrifice his attacking nature to help the team out.
The centre-midfielder is known as a box-to-box player, but with this latest injury setback, maybe he could develop into a holding-midfielder in order to help out.
Ramsey is a strong tackler and has superb vision, so maybe he could become a holding-midfielder for the next two months.
However, he will have to be disciplined enough and forget about his attacking nature, which may be tricky.
2) Promote Krystian Bielik
One man’s loss is another man’s gain.
Krystian Bielik could benefit from Francis Coquelin’s injury and could make a name for himself if given the chance.
Arsene Wenger is very hopeful about the youngster’s future, and he did look the part when coming on against Sheffield Wednesday in the Capital One Cup.
With not many options available to Wenger, maybe it’s time to promote Bielik and give him a chance to show what he can do.
1) Buy in January
It was shocking that Arsene Wenger didn’t buy a defensive midfielder over the summer, and it would be even more shocking if he avoided it in January.
With Coquelin out until around late January/early February, Arsenal need a new holding-midfielder and Wenger simply has to sign one in the New Year.
He will be hoping Arsenal can remain in the title race from now until the transfer window, but with Coquelin out, it will be a real task for Arsenal to remain in top form.
So there are our Five Things Arsenal should do to cope without Francis Coquelin.
Would you agree?
Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt