Francis Coquelin has impressed for Arsenal (Picture: Getty)

Arsene Wenger has revealed Arsenal were close to losing newly-emerged star Francis Coquelin earlier this season.

The French midfielder has become a crucial part of the Gunners’ side over the past few months, despite having made just one appearance in the first half of the campaign.

Coquelin played in the Capital One Cup defeat to Southampton in September, before being shipped out on loan to Championship side Charlton.

And Wenger admits he didn’t expect the 23-year-old to have a future at Arsenal following his move to The Valley – and Coquelin himself was reluctant to return to the Emirates in December.

‘It has been a surprise to everybody,’ Wenger said. ‘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.

‘In myself, I thought if he doesn’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 don’t leave him completely out of the squad for six more months.

‘He wasn’t happy when I called him back. He thought I had just called him back as cover.’

But Coquelin has since made 15 appearances in all competitions for Arsenal – becoming a vital member of Wenger’s starting XI.

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