Why Francis Coquelin’s Injury Could Hurt Arsenal More Than Expected

In his post-match press conference after Arsenal’s 3-0 Premier League win over Chelsea, Arsene Wenger was understandably elated. However, his face turned grey when asked about the injury to Francis Coquelin that had forced the French midfielder off midway through the first half. The loss of Coquelin was the one blight on an otherwise excellent day for the Gunners.

There are mounting concerns that it could be quite a serious problem. Coquelin’s expression as he departed the pitch suggested a man who feared the worst. After all, he missed two months of last season with an injury to the same knee. Having started this season as part of Wenger’s first-choice XI, he’ll be gutted about the prospect of losing his place.

As reported by David Hytner of the Guardian, Wenger confirmed the disappointing news: “He has a knee injury at the same place he had last year at West [Bromwich Albion]. That’s the negative of the day. We don’t know if the damage is as big at the moment, we have to wait for 48 hours. But he left the stadium in a brace and I’m a bit worried for that.”

As Arsenal fans wait for the swelling to go down so a proper medical assessment can be made, all they can do is sit tight and hope for the best. 

There may be some supporters who consider Coquelin’s injury a blessing in disguise. For several weeks now, sections of the fanbase have been clamouring for new signing Granit Xhaka to start at the Frenchman’s expense. It’s likely that Coquelin’s absence will now accelerate the Swiss midfielder’s integration into the team. 

However, it would be naive in the extreme to hail the loss of Coquelin as good news. Wenger clearly considers him an important player—and with good reason. His performances this season have been good, and he has played a vital part in helping Arsenal go unbeaten since the season’s opening weekend. 

At a time when Arsenal’s team is undergoing a process of evolution, Coquelin has been a welcome constant. His inclusion has been down to Wenger’s desire to retain a stable core at the heart of the side.

Through the spine of the Arsenal team, there are three key partnerships—the one between the centre-backs, …

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