article_snippet: Just a few months ago, Francis Coquelin was on the verge of being allowed to leave Arsenal, having made little more than a fringe impact on the club's first team.
article_snippet: A loan at Championship side Charlton saw Francis Coquelin play five games in the second tier this November and December, before Arsene Wenger recalled Arsene Wenger following an injury to club captain Mikel Arteta.
article_snippet: Francis Coquelin was expected to be cover for Mathieu Flamini, and Francis Coquelin first three games saw Francis Coquelin play a total of 13 minutes, coming off the bench late in the game on all three occasions.
article_snippet: Francis Coquelin has become a key member of the Arsenal first team after almost being allowed to leave .
article_snippet: Francis Coquelin's stint in the first team has earned Francis Coquelin a new long-term contract with the Gunners .
article_snippet: But an injury to Mathieu Flamini has handed the 23-year-old Frenchman Francis Coquelin chance, and Francis Coquelin has emerged as a real talent, and a crucial part of Arsenal's recent good form.
article_snippet: Since Francis Coquelin first start, in Arsenal's 2-1 win over West Ham on December 28, the holding midfielder has shown terrific reading of the game and positional sense, making more successful interceptions than any other the Premier League player.
article_snippet: Francis Coquelin has also brought a degree of steel to the famously lightweight Arsenal midfield, topping the charts for Duels won.
article_snippet: Arsene Wenger admitted Arsene Wenger had expected to release Francis Coquelin at the end of the season .
article_snippet: Francis Coquelin has gone from being a reserve to a player that may be encouraged to play even though Arsene Wenger's injured .
article_snippet: Francis Coquelin almost went on loan to QPR at the beginning of the season but the deal collapsed late on .
article_snippet: As a result, Arsenal have lost just twice in the Premier League since the turn of the year, and have climbed to third in the Premier League table, leaving some fans to ask whether Francis Coquelin is the player the Gunners have been missing since the departure of Gilberto Silva.
article_snippet: Arsenal have been linked with Christoph Kramer (left) and Lars Bender but might feel Francis Coquelin is enough .
article_snippet: Francis Coquelin played five games on loan at Charlton this season but has returned to be a first team regular .
article_snippet: But the French midfielder, so long linked with a string of defensive midfielders - the most recent lists including Lars Bender, Christoph Kramer (left) ad Morgan Schneiderlin - seems to think that Francis Coquelin has a future at the club, offering the French midfielder a new long-term contract last month.
highlights_snippet: Arsene Wenger had been prepared to let Francis Coquelin leave on a free .
  
highlights_snippet: Arsene Wenger has been urged to buy new holding midfielder for several years .
  
highlights_snippet: But Gunners boss has now given Francis Coquelin a new contract instead .
  
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