Arsenal: 5 Questions For Arsene Wenger Following PSG Draw
By Josh Sippie
4. Why Francis Coquelin?
Francis Coquelin has his uses. He is a defensive midfielder that has no fears. He can tackle with the best of them, rough up the opposition and get in their heads. He is simply not to be trifled with. Come into his zone and you are going to feel his studs in your leg.
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But this game was not made for that. It’s clear, with the attack that Wenger put out there, that he intended to lean heavily on the counter attack. There is no other logical explanation for starting Alexis Sanchez up top.
So how then does Coquelin fit into the picture? Coquelin is not a passer and he is certainly not an attacker, yet it looked like he was being used as a box-to-box midfielder.
Wouldn’t Granit Xhaka have made far more sense here? What is the Swiss being saved for? His passing ability would have been most welcomed, yet instead he was given an extended break, leaving many to wonder if Wenger even wanted to win the game.
Moving on, speaking of questionable starts.
Next: 3. Have you learned?