4) Francis Coquelin has reached a nadir
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Francis Coquelin turns 26 in a couple of months, has played more than 130 games for Arsenal and looks nowhere close to the finished product. Once the controversial star of debates on stats for the best defensive midfielders in the league, his fall from grace over the past year has been alarming.
At Anfield, it seemed like a repeat of his Champions League performance at the Allianz Arena. The first half was littered with errors and it was bizarre to see him fail at his primary duty – giving the back four a shield.
The French midfielder was easily shrugged off the ball even against opponents who aren’t supposed to have the size and strength to beat him in a physical duel. Adam Lallana had been instructed to make diagonal runs through Arsenal’s midfield and it was a ploy that worked to disturb Coquelin’s focus.
Unlike Granit Xhaka, Coquelin is weak on the ball when put under pressure and Liverpool’s midfielders did well to swarm him when they had the chance. It is only Wenger’s injury crisis in midfield that keeps Coquelin in the starting lineup and it came as no surprise when he was taken off at half-time with the Gunners needing goals.
