Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin eager to win FA Cup after 'dream' campaign following recall from loan spell at Charlton

  • Francis Coquelin is desperate to win his first major honour at Arsenal
  • The 24-year-old has chance of winning silverware in FA Cup final
  • Coquelin has been delighted with progression since being recalled 

While Arsenal were being crowned FA Cup winners last year Francis Coquelin was not watching. In fact, he wasn't even in the country.

After a year on loan at German side Freiburg the Frenchman was on holiday in his hometown of Laval, France, following the game via updates.

In many ways the situation summed up Coquelin's status at the club, with even the player himself admitting that he didn't fully feel like an Arsenal player.

Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin, pictured in training, is desperate to get his hands on the FA Cup

Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin, pictured in training, is desperate to get his hands on the FA Cup

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes Coquelin has been severely under-rated this season 

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes Coquelin has been severely under-rated this season 

But 12 months on, the scenario couldn't be more different and come Saturday's FA Cup final, the 24-year-old will instead be in the thick of it rather than watching from afar.


'I always had hunger, I knew if I got the chance I was ready for it. I just needed the chance,' said Coquelin.

'It was always going to be a bit of luck. In the pecking order there were a lot of players in front of me.

'They all got injured at the same time. That's why I came back and I've played so many games. It's down to a bit of luck but I was ready for it.

'If we can finish the season with a trophy it will be a great six months and year. But let's not forget what happened at Charlton. It was a good turning point.'

Before that watershed moment of the midfielder being recalled early from a loan spell at Charlton in November of last year, Wenger admits Coquelin was in danger of losing his way.

Hungry to impress, Wenger believes the defensive midfielder nearly lost sight of the qualities that the club first saw when they scouted him in 2008.

'What I like is the fact is he has strength in the challenge and his reading of the opponent's game,' said Wenger.

'He lost his way a bit and he wanted to be more of a playmaker. He lost some time there and he came back to what his real identity is because he is an intelligent boy.'

Coquelin (left) shields the ball from the challenge of Manchester United defender Phil Jones (right)

Coquelin (left) shields the ball from the challenge of Manchester United defender Phil Jones (right)

For Coquelin, though, his manager's words can be explained by youthful eagerness.

'When you don't get that opportunity to play as a young player you tend to overdo it,' said Coquelin.

'You want to show you can do a lot of things. You think if you do that you might not get another chance and you want to prove you can do other things.

'But now you understand when you get older you need to stick to what you are good at. I now understand that and at the time it was a bit harder.'

So what next for Coquelin? After transforming from squad player to first-team regular the Frenchman rightly believes anything is possible.

'The dream now? Well this is the dream,' Coquelin said. 'I am at Arsenal, I have been here since I was 17. Arsenal is a club that I really like and if I could stay here all my career I would love too.

'Now you want more. I want to win trophies with this club. We have got a good chance next week to get a trophy - a first trophy for me.'

Coquelin (right) tussles for possession with Manchester United's Marouane Fellaini (left) at Old Trafford 

Coquelin (right) tussles for possession with Manchester United's Marouane Fellaini (left) at Old Trafford