Arsenal: Task-master Francis Coquelin has quiet claim to start

Arsenal will have plenty to contend with against Tottenham, but if the name of the game is shutting down any one man in particular, use Francis Coquelin.

Arsenal nation is showing more confidence going into the North London Derby than I expected. I fully expect a conclusive victory, but that’s not to say there won’t be plenty of threats to contend with. Harry Kane is obviously the biggest one, but I’ve matched him with Alexandre Lacazette. Both stone-cold finishers. Both reliable. It’s a wash.

The next person of note is Christian Eriksen. I have already stated how little concern I have for the Dane. I am completely aware of what he is capable of, but what he is capable of is not what we have seen all year, not until Ireland gave him acres of space.

Which is obviously where most people draw their fear from. Will Granit Xhaka give Eriksen the space he needs to excel? He’s looked like a frustrated Mesut Ozil when he’s been under pressure, completely unable to string much together.

But the threat is always there, and stopping him before he can get started is certainly rather important.

Which is why I am doing the unthinkable and advocating for Francis Coquelin to start. I already believe that Shkodran Mustafi can negate Kane, as he has done three times now to Chelsea’s strikers.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

Coquelin is a liability at times. No doubt about that. But if there is one thing he does very well, it’s accomplishing a specific objective. When he is given a clear mark with accompanying tasks, he is like a mobile pest to whoever he is latched onto.

So why not find a way to start him against Spurs and give him one job – stick to Eriksen like your life depends on it. Again, the key to negating Eriksen is pretty simple – just don’t given him space. Don’t let him started. Don’t let him get space. Coquelin has enough athleticism and ferocity to stick with him. And even if he can only frustrate him for 55, 60 minutes, he’s done his job. take him off like against Manchester City.

Not just that, but I want people in this match who know the stakes and can rise to the occasion. Coquelin is nothing if not aggressive. He is an Arsenal man who is going to give his all to the North London Derby, then find some more and give that too. Even if all of that effort is specifically directed at shutting down Eriksen, then why not?

Next: North London Derby Combined XI

It would, however, require a lot of configuring of the starting XI, though, and that’s why I call this a “quiet” claim to start. I’d love to see a 3-5-2 with Coquelin in behind our regular two midfielders, then drop Mesut Ozil and let Alexis Sanchez (or Danny Welbeck, if it’s safe) and Alexandre Lacazette start up front.

Home/Arsenal News