Arsenal

Arsene Wenger hails Francis Coquelin impact

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 19 May 2015

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes that Francis Coquelin would receive more praise for his performances if he had been signed for big money in January.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has heaped praise on Francis Coquelin for his performances since breaking into the first team earlier this season.

Coquelin spent more than a month out on loan at Championship outfit Charlton Athletic towards the end of 2014, but was recalled by Wenger and quickly displaced Mathieu Flamini as the Gunners' first-choice midfield enforcer.

The 24-year-old has gone on to play 27 times for the club in all competitions this season, and Wenger believes that the Frenchman would receive a lot more credit for his displays if he were a big-money January signing.

"The world has changed. The appreciation today of the quality of a player is just down with the money you spend. If we had bought Coquelin at Christmas for £40m, everyone would say 'what a signing'. I am sorry he didn't cost any money, he is still a good player," Wenger is quoted as saying by PA.

"What is a player worth today? Nobody knows really. I just wanted to say that if we had bought [Coquelin], nobody would complain that he was a good player. Nobody would dispute that his performances have been convincing and that he is ready for a fight even if somebody comes in.

"He has shown he has the capacity to play for us and play a big part in the success of the team. I extended his contract, that means I believe in him."

Arsenal will effectively seal a top-three finish in the Premier League this season if they pick up a point from their final two matches of the campaign.