With Arsenal looking to build on last season’s second-place finish, fans have been desperate for the club to tie down some of their star players to long-term deals.
Supporters want to know that the club has the ambition to compete, and the surest sign of that would be to ensure the men who make the club tick are willing to pledge their future to the Gunners.
So imagine the fans’ delight when the club announced a brand new deal for Mesut Özil Alexis Sánchez Francis Coquelin.
🇫🇷 ✍️ ✍️ ✍️
We’ve got some good news for you… #WeAreTheArsenal pic.twitter.com/jNuJROg44u
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 12, 2017
The Frenchman has agreed a deal to keep him in North London until 2020, as have compatriots Olivier Giroud and Laurent Koscielny.
“Francis has made tremendous technical strides over the past few years because he’s so focused every day,” Arsène Wenger told Arsenal’s official site.
And, while question marks still hang over the future of Özil and Alexis, that hardly matters when someone with Coquelin’s ability is there for the long haul.
https://twitter.com/GunnerFaithful/status/819485546477187073
now give Sanchez what he wants ffs
— Gooner Adam 🔴⚪️ (@AdzCampbell91) January 12, 2017
https://twitter.com/akichamp282/status/819486137274220545
Still, at least some were pleased to see the French trio commit their respective futures to the club.
Hang on a minute…
YESSS KEEP GIROUD AND KOSC FOREVER
— Met. (@AFCMet) January 12, 2017
https://twitter.com/aicha_AFC/status/819487366637350912
delete Coquelin out of this video please
— Andrew (@Hesfivefootfour) January 12, 2017
https://twitter.com/ryan_defreitas/status/819492037393346560
I always look at Francis Coquelin and think, 'He's very raw but has great potential for the future,' and then I remember he's 25, not 19.
— Rupert Fryer (@Rupert_Fryer) January 12, 2017
Francis Coquelin: fan favourite.
fake news has really got out of hand pic.twitter.com/qAGTUglmcg
— ag (@BeltransOldMole) January 12, 2017
