Remember when Arsenal spent £30m on Granit Xhaka and fans rejoiced, assuming it would mean the end of Francis Coquelin in midfield.
Well they’re not getting rid of the Frenchman that easily.
Coquelin has started the first two Premier League games of the 2016/17 season.
90 minutes in the 4-3 defeat at home to Liverpool could be put down to Xhaka’s fitness, but the Swiss midfielder’s return saw Mohamed Elneny – not Coquelin – dropped to the bench for the draw with Leicester.
Some euphemistically called it an ‘interesting’ move from Arsene Wenger.
Holding over chambers and coquelin over Elneny. Two interesting calls from Wenger for what has become a very big game
— Jonny Singer (@Jonny_Singer) August 20, 2016
Others, however, had no intention of beating around the bush.
https://twitter.com/samueljadrew/status/767021445490831360
Wenger clearly isn’t the only Frenchman to divide opinion in North London, and it’s a race to see which one leaves first.
https://twitter.com/_socoamaretto/status/767022317599940608
Coquelin was booked in the first half, and it feels as though we’ve used that sentence enough times that we ought to have it saved as a template by now.
That really should be his middle name.
Francis "who's on a yellow card" Coquelin.— PhilippaB (@Philby1976) August 20, 2016
He was probably lucky to stay on the pitch after a foul on Riyad Mahrez after the break, but at least Arsenal fans took it well.
https://twitter.com/McNeilGeorge/status/767054206033428481
Eventually we reached the stage where Arsenal fans accepted that Coquelin in central midfield is their future and they can’t do a thing about it.
If I had the dirt on Big Weng that Coquelin clearly does to still be getting minutes I'd at least do a better job in midfield.
— Michael Keshani (@MichaelKeshani) August 20, 2016
Finally, with 20-or-so minutes to go, Jack Wilshere made his way to the touchline to come on as a substitute. Sweet release at last. Wait, hang on…
https://twitter.com/ryan_defreitas/status/767058690042130432
True to form, all three Arsenal subs were made without the number 34 making an appearance on the electronic board.
The nicest thing we can say is at least some tried to spread the anger around.
Leave alone Coquelin how is Walcott still on the pitch.
— Hassan (@ClassofBergkamp) August 20, 2016
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