Francis Coquelin rates Chris Willock highly (Picture: Getty)

Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin has praised the decision of former Gunners striker Chris Willock to leave the club and seal a transfer to Benfica this summer.

The 19-year-old failed to break into the first-team at Arsenal and decided to move on to further his career, taking the unusual step for an Englishman in moving abroad.

Coquelin believes this was a bold move by his former team-mate, who he will welcome back to the Emirates Stadium in the Emirates Cup this weekend.

Willock recently left Arsenal for Benfica (Picture: Getty)
Coquelin believes Willock made the right decision (Picture: Getty)

The Frenchman remains a big admirer of Willock, whom he added was one of the best players in Arsenal’s academy before his move away.

‘I think it’s very good and for him to go to Benfica, who play very young players, and for me he was one of the best in the Academy,’ Coquelin said.

‘He’s shown he’s open-minded to go and experience somewhere else. Usually English players like to stay in England, so he’s going to find a different culture and a different language, but I think he can do something special.’

Arsenal's pre-season fixtures

Arsenal 2-0 Sydney FC
Arsenal 3-1 Western Sydney Wanderers
Arsenal 1-1 Bayern Munich
Arsenal 0-3 Chelsea
Arsenal 5-2 Benfica
Arsenal 1-2  Sevilla
Aug 6 – Chelsea (Wembley – Community Shield)

Arsenal take on Benfica later today, before facing Sevilla in their second Emirates Cup match tomorrow afternoon.

It remains to be seen if Willock will get a run-out against his old club, where his brother Joe still plays in their Under-18 side.

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