Arsène Wenger says he remains in the market for a defensive midfielder this summer, despite the emergence of Francis Coquelin who, he said, had defied his unheralded status with his form since December. The Arsenal manager recalled Coquelin from his loan spell at Charlton Athletic to answer selection problems and has been rewarded with a series of tenacious displays.
Wenger paid tribute to Coquelin in the context of his latest grilling over plans for the upcoming transfer window. “The world has changed,” Wenger said. “The appreciation today of the quality of a player is just down to the money you spend. If we had bought Coquelin at Christmas for £40m, everyone would say, ‘What a signing.’ I am sorry he didn’t cost any money. He is still a good player.”
Wenger refused to comment, as ever, on specific players to whom Arsenal have been linked but he did say that Coquelin’s emergence had not changed the club’s thinking too greatly in terms of recruitment. It is understood that their priority positions are defensive midfield and goalkeeper.
“It hasn’t changed a lot,” Wenger said. “What is for sure is Coquelin has shown he has the capacity to play for us and play a big part in the success of the team. I think nobody would dispute that his performances have been convincing and that he is ready for a fight – even if somebody comes in. Even if somebody else comes in, he will stay here. I extended his contract [in February]. That means I believe in him.”
Coquelin has been part of an extremely settled team; Wenger has started with the same XI for the past six league matches and, in a quirk, that lineup has excluded English players. The club have made great play of their determination to build around an English core but Jack Wilshere, Theo Walcott, Kieran Gibbs, Calum Chambers, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Danny Welbeck have been missing, mainly because of injuries. The first four are now fit but they have encountered frustration at breaking into the team.
“I know our future is only bright if I can keep a cohesion and a core of players who have been educated here and play year in, year out together,” Wenger said. “That is the difficulty in the modern job. The cohesion is a very important part of the success of the team but you are always under pressure to get in ... People always want new. We live in a ‘new world’. The English players will play. People underestimate the fact that when you have been out for a year [like Walcott], it is not in four weeks that you come back.”
Arsenal face Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium night, when a point will all but ensure a top-three finish, which would mean direct entry into the Champions League group phase next season. Laurent Koscielny is a doubt because of flu.