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 . A loan at Championship side Charlton saw him play five games in the second tier this November and December , before Arsene Wenger recalled him following an injury to club captain Mikel Arteta . Coquelin was expected to be cover for Mathieu Flamini , and his first three games saw him play a total of 13 minutes , coming off the bench late in the game on all three occasions . Francis Coquelin has become a key member of the Arsenal first team after almost being allowed to leave . Statistically the Frenchman is the leading defensive player in the Premier League since his return to Arsenal . Coquelin 's stint in the first team has earned him a new long-term contract with the Gunners . But an injury to Flamini has handed the 23-year-old Frenchman his chance , and Coquelin has emerged as a real talent , and a crucial part of Arsenal 's recent good form . In fact , based on statistics alone , Coquelin is unquestionably the best defensive player in the Premier League since he returned to the club . Since his 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 Premier League player . Coquelin has also brought a degree of steel to the famously lightweight Arsenal midfield , topping the charts for Duels won . Arsene Wenger admitted he had expected to release Coquelin at the end of the season . Coquelin has gone from being a reserve to a player that may be encouraged to play even though he 's injured . Coquelin almost went on loan to QPR at the beginning of the season but the deal collapsed late on . In fact , the French midfielder has dominated the Premier League in personal battles , his 97 duels won an astonishing 21 more than any other player . When it comes to tackling the Gunners ' academy product is only second in the list , four behind Manchester City full back Pablo Zabaleta , but he is still comfortably ahead of the next best midfielder , Brazilian Fernandinho . As a result , Arsenal have lost just twice in the league since the turn of the year , and have climbed to third in the Premier League table , leaving some fans to ask whether Coquelin is the player the Gunners have been missing since the departure of Gilberto Silva . Certainly he is not yet the finished article , as shown in an unconvincing display against Monaco in the Champions League . The Frenchman midfielder has propelled himself above compatriot Mathieu Flamini in the pecking order . Arsenal have been linked with Christoph Kramer ( left ) and Lars Bender but might feel Coquelin is enough . Coquelin played five games on loan at Charlton this season but has returned to be a first team regular . But Wenger , so long linked with a string of defensive midfielders - the most recent lists including Lars Bender , Christoph Kramer ad Morgan Schneiderlin - seems to think that Coquelin has a future at the club , offering him a new long-term contract last month . Whether he holds onto his place when Arteta returns , or can hold off competition from those potential summer signings , remains to be seen . But what is certain is that Arsenal have , statistically at least , found themselves the Premier League 's leading defensive player on current form .
Since coming back from loan , Francis Coquelin tops defensive statistics . Injuries to Mathieu Flamini and Mikel Arteta forced Coquelin to return . Defensive midfielder has most interceptions , duels won and tackles . Arsene Wenger had been prepared to let Coquelin leave on a free . Wenger has been urged to buy new holding midfielder for several years . But Gunners boss has now given Coquelin a new contract instead . CLICK HERE for all the latest Arsenal news .