Arsene Wenger has revealed how he scrapped the exit strategy drawn up for Francis Coquelin after a rapid mid-season transformation by the French midfielder . In less than three months , Coquelin has gone from an Arsenal outcast on loan at Charlton to a player of such vital importance that he has been equipped with a protective mask which will enable him to play despite a broken nose against Queen 's Park Rangers on Wednesday . 'It has been a surprise to everybody , ' said Wenger . ' I told him at the start of the season to give absolutely everything until Christmas and then we would sit down together and see where we were . Francis Coquelin stretches prior to Arsenal 's training session ahead of their match against QPR . Coquelin almost went on loan to QPR at the beginning of the season but the deal collapsed late on . 'In myself , I thought if he does n't play at all until Christmas , there was only six months contract to go and I would let him go somewhere else . You let the boy go . You do n't leave him completely out of the squad for six more months . ' Coquelin almost joined QPR in August but a proposed one-year loan collapsed on deadline day and two months later he was loaned to Charlton in the Championship , only to be recalled early because Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini were struggling with injuries and poor form . 'He was n't happy when I called him back , ' said Wenger . 'He thought I had just called him back as cover . ' Coquelin made his first Arsenal start for nearly two years at West Ham on December 28 and has been ever-present in the Barclays Premier League since . Last month , the 23-year-old signed a new contract tying him to Arsenal until 2018 . Coquelin has gone from being a reserve to a player that may be encouraged to play even though he 's injured . Arsene Wenger admitted he had expected to release Coquelin at the end of the season . Wenger is criticised for his loyalty and patience with developing players , but this is a triumph for that policy and a reminder that some players take longer than others to mature . 'He has analysed well what he is good at , ' said Wenger . 'Defending in midfield . He was in between the playmaking position and the box-to-box player and he is not that . He is a sitting player who can win the ball . 'He has restricted his game to that and you make success in life with what you 're good at . You do n't have all the qualities but you have to express what you 're good at and he 's good at that . I think he can do that job . He is doing it now . 'He is respectful , focused and open . He has a strong personality , he speaks his mind but does n't complain . Let 's not forget , he has been world champion with the Under 21s . But you have to climb from a youth prospect to a regular player in a top team and that 's not easy . He 's doing it now . ' Coquelin broke his nose against Everton on Sunday but trained on Tuesday and has the mask ready if required at Loftus Road . Coquelin 's stint in the first team has earned him a new long-term contract with the Gunners . The Frenchman midfielder has propelled himself above compatriot Mathieu Flamini in the pecking order . 'He knows it 's an opportunity for him , ' said Wenger . 'Sometimes when you wait for such a long time to get your chance and you get it , the more you have suffered , the more you enjoy it . The human being is a strange animal . 'He has gone through a lot of doubt , questioning himself , at many times being discouraged that he does n't get a chance . Now that he has a chance he does n't want to let it slip away . He is a winner and he wants to win . That 's why he is so committed . ' Arteta , despite nagging injury problems , will extend his contract for one more year and Flamini has another year on his deal , while Arsenal remain linked with Lars Bender , Christoph Kramer and Morgan Schneiderlin . 'You can not want to play at a big club and have no competition , ' said Wenger . 'It 's impossible . Competition is part of our job . '
Francis Coquelin recently signed a new contract with bury . But Arsene mutually confirmed he had planned to release him in the summer . Coquelin was brought back from his loan at Charlton due to injuries . Since then , Coquelin has kept his place in the first team .