Good News: Arsenal midfield star tops key stat in Premier League
Oct 24, 2016 at 6:01 PM
Francis Coquelin was active in the final third during Arsenal’s draw with Middlesbrough.
It is fair to say that the weekend proved to be a frustrating one for Arsenal as they drew 0-0 with Middlesbrough.
The Gunners had headed into the game on the back of six successive wins in the Premier League.
They were unable to overcome Aitor Karanka’s team, though, despite enjoying 75% of the possession and registering ten shots throughout.
It was a particularly frustrating afternoon for their midfielders, with the absence of Santi Cazorla in the center of the park meaning Arsene Wenger’s side were not at their creative best.
However, it seems one man had a good afternoon and that was Francis Coquelin as he dominated the Premier League stats in one area.
The Frenchman posted 39 successful passes in the final third against Middlesbrough, the most of any player in all of the games over the weekend.
His closest competitor was teammate Mohamed Elneny, who managed a tally of 36, while West Ham United’s Mark Noble was behind him on 34.
That is an impressive number from Coquelin, who is more regarded for his ability in the defensive third than the offensive one but showed with these stats that there may be more to him than just tough tackles.
Francis Coquelin up until the end of 2014 was plying his trade in the Championship on loan with Charlton Athletic. Initially recalled from his spell with the Addicks as cover in a time of an emergency crisis, the Frenchman astounded the Arsenal faithful, and indeed Wenger. Perhaps it was his rise to the occasion in a time of desperate need that has created the aura of invincibility in the bond between Coquelin and the supporters.
There is no doubting that the 25-year-old has more than earned a merit to be in the Arsenal team. His displays for this season are nothing short of sensational.