Date: 20th June 2015 at 7:11pm
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After what has been a great season for the Gunners, retaining the FA Cup and giving London rivals Chelsea a somewhat competitive title challenge, it proved difficult to pick a standout player for the season. With the likes of Sanchez, Giroud, Cazorla and Koscielny all being in blistering form, it is no easy task to pick the player of the season – heck, even Nacho Monreal deserves to be in with a shout.

For me though, I can look no further than Francis Coquelin. This guy has been simply wonderful for Arsenal this season (well, for half of it anyway). Recalled from his loan spell in January, Charlton must be cursing their luck as his return has coincided with almost unstoppable form from the Gunners.

At 24 years of age, he is definitely considered a late bloomer, although it doesn’t seem like it at all. The Frenchman has brought defensive solidity to Arsenal, something that has been lacking big time in previous seasons and just at the right time too. It may have been the obvious missing piece of the puzzle for Arsene all along, but nobody could have predicted that Francis would come in and do the job to that extent.

Okay, we know that Francis likes a meaty tackle every now and then, although you can’t help but admire his mental resolve as well. From being on the brink of leaving the club, to really making that defensive midfield spot his, it’s almost as if he knew exactly what the team needed; offering us something that nobody else in the squad had.

Not only did he bring tackling, interceptions, mobility and aggression to the side, but he contributed to all aspects of play; offering an outlet when keeping possession of the ball as well as two or three delightful cross-field passes. I’m not suggesting that Francis is a playmaker, not at all; in fact I secretly hope he never gets the taste for goals. His presence in front of the back four is far more precious than another goal-getting midfielder.

So we know technically, physically and mentally that Coquelin has what it takes at the highest level, but that isn’t what impressed me the most. He is a team player, despite being an outstanding individual. He has fit seamlessly into a squad filled with world class players and produced when it matters the most. His positional awareness allowed Cazorla, Ozil, Ramsey and Sanchez to play their game further up the pitch without having to be too mindful of being hit on the break (not that they seemed to worry too much before Francis was in the side anyway).

Coquelin certainly gives us the edge in the bigger games and we occasionally see him getting fired up and motivating the players around him. With news of club captain Mikel Arteta spending at least one more year with the Gunners, as well as rumours linking Arsenal with some high profile midfielders, it is up to Coquelin to really kick-on another level or two in seasons to come – something which I desperately look forward to.

In the meantime, he can enjoy the holidays with an FA Cup winner’s medal in his pocket. He is definitely deserving of Arsenal’s player of the season in my mind, which leads me to ask: where has this guy been all these years!?

Honourable mention: Danny Welbeck – for scoring the winner at Old Trafford, as well as laying into Van Persie with a meaty tackle in front of the Emirates crowd and getting away with it.

 

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