Francis Coquelin is poised to miss Arsenal’s pre-season preparations after being named in the French Under 20 squad for next months Under 20 World Cup in Colombia.
Coquelin, who spent the whole of last season on loan with Ligue One outfit Lorient, was expected to use pre-season to force his way into Arsene Wenger’s first-team squad. However, he and fellow Lorient loanee Gilles Sunu have both been named in Francis Smerecki’s initial 30-man squad, and are all but certain to make the final cut.
France’s involvement in the competition begins on July 30th, and will run to at least August 5th, when the group stages finish.
Ignasi Miquel has already been included in the Spain squad for the competition, meaning he will also miss pre-season.
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Good. Maybe Arsenal will give a first team chance to British players now. Ah, who am I kidding… let’s go and buy all of Africa instead because it’s cheaper!
So buying a player from Africa is cheaper than giving a chance to British players that are already at the club? I think I’ve missed something here
Well, let’s look at the facts prior to Carl coming in (he can play both for England and Finland):
With the current (expanded) squad, we have the following situation for 2011/12:
Non-English “over-aged”: 22
English “over-aged”: 4
Non-English “under 21”: 5 (incl Ramsey)
English “under 21”: 26
Seems like Arsenal is very much trying to give English youngsters the chance. The problem is the the rules limiting English clubs signing English players further away than a fairly short distance.
Almunia, Fabianski, Mannone, Sagna, Koscielny, Djourou, Vermaelen, Squillaci, Clichy, Traore, Diaby, Rosicky, Denilson, Song, Arshavin, Fabregas, Nasri, Eboue, van Persie, Bendtner, Vela, Chamakh, Botelho, Walcott, Gibbs, Gilbert, Simpson
21 + 5 = 26
Szczesny, Ramsey, Charles-Cook, McDermott, Hajrovic, Smith, Glasgow, Monteiro, Campbell, Wilshere, Afobe, Yennaris, Meade, Brislen-Hall, Boateng, Obed, Deacon, Byles, Aneke, Bartley, Eastmond, Emmanuel-Thomas, Freeman, Henderson, Hoyte, Lansbury, Murphy, Shea, Watt, Evina, Frimpong
5 + 26 = 31
Thats good news for him, but bad news for us. I was hoping to him battle to win a place in the first team in pre-season. Oh well, Frimpong now has a chance
It’s a big blow for us because I believe that Coquelin would be the best cover for Song when (if) he leaves us in January for the ANC. I’ve no problems with Frimong but his one-year long miss could mean a lot.
And anyway, what about Lansbury and Gibbs? I know they are going to the U21 finals, but will that affect their pre-season programmes, including the Asia-tour?
Coquelin imo is only short term solution. I can remember what happened to Kolo after ’08 AFN and I hope that we sign either Parker or Toulalan or someone else. For the past few years we relied on youth at it didn’t payed off. He is JUST one for the future if he gets to the level that’s requiered.
Asia tour is just for commercial and if Henri and Kierran wont be there it doesnt mean much really, its about first team star players.
dont worry everybody.from now on african cup of nations will take place in summer and not in january.so song is going nowhere in january
Jack – sorry to piss on your parade but the 2012 (Gambon and Eq Guinea) ACN will be Jan 21 – Feb 12.
Then it gets worse as they are switching to odd years, so there will be another in 2013 supposed to be Libya, that is looking pretty unlikely, Nigeria are on standby. The 2015 is in Morocco and 2017 in South Africa and all of them are due to start in January.
do u think coquelin should remain at arsenal next season or be loaned out one more season to gain even more 1st team experience?
shud he then be loaned out to lorient again?
Frimpong always had a chance^
how close do you think he is from being in the 1st team? How is he compared to Frimpong in your opinion?
That’s a shame (for Arsenal, not for him).
Could Arsenal choose not to let him go if they so wished, like we did with Vela and the Copa America? I don’t think we would do that to him, what with it being a World Cup tournament, but is that an option that Wenger could exercise?
vela is at last chance saloon thats why hes being blocked but coquelin is safe so i guess they won’t stand in his way. plus coquelin is not likely to see action till september/october when the cup games begin
Aneke might be in the Nigeria U20s
Freeman, Afobe, Bartley might be in the England U20s.
martinez might be in the Argentina U20s.
@Jack Yes, you’re right, and this Asia-tour is commercial indeed, but after the tour there will be only 3-4 friendly matches to the season start, and I’m afraid that with the possible signings, Wenger will waste Henri as he did with Nordtveit, Merida or Barazite.
I think its bad news for him as well as arsenal. Unless he is the absolute star of the tournament it will hinder his chances with the arsenal team and the french team, how many players move up to the senior side without being first choice for their club. Double edge sword this is. I hope he has a lengthy contract, i really think he will be top quality.
This comes as no surprise considering how well Coquelin did last season as well as the FFF’s tendency to keep teams together. But as well as Coquelin, Sunu and Miquel we could lose a lot more. Silva, Martinez and Frimpong plus a host of English players could all go.
Although if Frimpong doesn’t go I have no issue with him being given more chances because he clearly has talent. But he has spent the last two seasons on the sideline and because of his allegiance to Ghana. When the African Nations comes around we will lose both Song and himself.
In my opinion if Denilson wants to leave, I would give Coquelin the chance to take his role in the side. But I am slightly worried the pressure on Wenger to buy will kill of any chance Coquelin/Frimpong/Eastmond have.
I would have said loaning him back to Lorient would be the best options for his development, if they had qualified for the Europa League (since they were in the running till the last few games of the season). But maybe, at least for the first half of the season before the African Nations. We should loan him to a Premier League side, Jack did well at Bolton so I don’t see why they shouldn’t be considered an option.
This is good news for Coquelin, but i still don’t think he is ready to be a first team contender along with Alex Song. We still need to find able back up to Song or even maybe find someone who is better. As good as Song is, i think this area of the team could also be strengthed.
Why will they miss pre-season? For non-current international players, it starts on July 4th. Even if they have to line up with their squads a week early, they’ll still have three weeks of pre-season first. The national squads wouldn’t want them unfit.
I’m with Jamie on this one, Coquelin is way better than Frimpong. I think he could be the Flamini type player we’ve missed. It is a shame he’ll miss our pre-season and a chance to work his way into the first team plans.
Are any of Arsenal’s other players likely to feature in the U20 world cup? I’m thinking maybe Martinez.
Woow Wenger got a really big issue here if both song and frimpong goes to the ANC then will he buy a DM or will he buy just a defender n let maybe verminator play DM just for that month.
This summer is going to be the most crucial summer ever for Arsenal and lets say we only win the carling cup next season is that really enough? for me we should only accept that we win either the Pl or the CL, i am an arsenal fan but I’m also a realist we need big changes if we want to be amongst the top and i really hope Wenger gets it right this time because i am sad to say time is running out for him to deliver
Arsenal youngsters areoverated none of d exciting prospects in de yut setup is worth £5M compare dis list of players bartley-shako miquel -p.jones coquelin – M ‘villa frimpong-rodwell henri-henderson Jet -sturridge afobe-lukaku freeman-wickham silva -chamberlain henderson-ganso aneke -goetze ozyakup -erikson
stupid..you are comparing the products of one club with the products of whole world…also you conveniently forgot wilshere…you are fucking stupid
m’villa is a workhorse but coquelin is great technically(more like rafael)i agree with sam hes a flamini type. of course we can’t have all the best talent in the world at one club but if we can have 1-2 ‘top4 quality’ youths graduate into the first team every season then that will do.
don’t forget that clichy, fabregas, diaby, song and a lot more hasbeen youth in Arsenal. you are stupid.
I like that you forgot to mention Wilshere, Miyaichi, Ramsey……and what makes you think the people you listed are better than our youngsters?e.g Lansbury-Connor Henderson. I bet if our kids were in other clubs you will rate them more.
*Jordan*
Frimpong showed good potential in last summers Emirates Cup, but i prefer Coquilen to him. I also feel that Frimpong has an attitude problem, thinks he is far too ‘gansta’ so to say; and says the word “DEEEEEENCH” far to much – the meaning of that word is beyond me.
Coquilen seems like a decent lad, who puts his head down and grafts hard for a team. Been great for Lorient last season on loan.
Szczcesny
Sagna – Cahill – TV5 – Sakho
Nasri – Song – Wilshere
Walcott – RVP – A.Young
Bench: Fabianksi,Gibbs,Arshavin,Bartley,Ramsey,Vertonghen.
*Trophy Winning Squad*
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13688538.stm
wondered what you thought of this interview with Walcott?? some interesting stuff can be taken (once you’ve waided through the marsh of footballing clichés…)
i know i will get so many thumb down but hey who cares?
why are people linking arsenal fc with expensive second rate players? samba, cahill, parker……none of these jokers play for a top 4 team and none of the big team wants to sign any of them, why aresenal?
i will start with parker coz he’s even the darling of media saying we will win things with him on the pitch. he flopped at chelsea and get relegated with westham, samba because he’s big and strong but he’s slow as a duck, in fact he made more mistakes last season than djourou and koscielny combined. gary cahill is just overrated i am sure he could be good addition but no for that price.
whats wrong with arsenal defence? not much. considering djourou and koscielny first season as first teamers they carried us all season till they get tired at the end of the season. dont blame them, blame arsene for playing squillaci and refusing to buy a good backup in january.so ungrateful people forget because of djourou, we beat chelsea and drogba got owned.at one point during the season we looked like contender but the team fell apart because of the usual, injuries and tiredness and of course arsene’s stubborness for refusing to buy.
for me, only cahill could make it at arsenal but knowing wenger he wouldnt pay that price. he will rather assess bartley in pre-season before making a decision. samba wouldnt come, djourou is better plus vermaelen is back. and please forget parker!let harry have him.
Stop using they got tired excuse we need leadership badly. Parker and Samba are leaders.
Show us some better players with leadership skills that are payable.
Dear o dear. When 27 people are marking up an a comment that Samba (who Wenger tried to sign) is worse than our centre-backs, believes there’s wrong with our defence and plays the tiredness card it makes you grateful they have no involvement whatsoever at the club.
You can just about put up with that, but to ridicule him and Parker as jokers who “don’t play for a Top 4 team” – as if that’s grounds for determining a player’s ability shows how far this Talkspor, gutter press inspired levels of anybody being allowed a platform to spout nonsense has sunk.
Van der Vaart, Modric, Ashley Young, Baines, Fellaini
Or Jonny Evans, Mikel, Lucas, Gibson or Gareth Barry.
Thankfully this attitude was ignored when we brought in Dixon, Bould, Keown, Smudger & Ian Wright. I supposed you’d have snapped up William Prunier & Istvan Kozma at that time rather than “jokers from Stoke & Palace”
trust me! my granny is a cleaner at the emirates.
arsene’s midfield target are 3, steven gerrard, marouane fellaini and kaka.
if he fails to get any of them he will go for cheap option, feyenoord captain leroy fer he can also play in defence.
my granny said scott parker is not even on the list.
My granny says your granny is a liar.
LOL! GRANNY CLEANS UP AT THE EMIRATES. What a headline for next season or perhaps the last season??
Well guys just wanted to let people know that nasri said on his twitter page not to believe any rumours on the papers he also said that he will let everyone know via twitter if anything happens i pray to god that wenger pens him down on a new deal and soon come on wenger hurry up please.
And why on earth would a cleaner know all that? And if anything, that “list” would propably be on the colney where the have staff have their offices… No disrespect meant.
my granny doesnt lie, she also said clichy is jumping before being pushed because there is a chance he won’t be first choice next season. if arsene signs sackho he will play left back coz he’s not sure botelho will settle in quickly and gibbs is still not ready.he’s asking a big pay rise or he’ll walk. nasri want to see some good signings before commiting. cesc is not too bothered about transfer, even better if he gives it another year maybe he’ll win something. samba is not arsenal type of player. 12 millions? sacre blue! ze newspaper is having a laff.
just because she works as a cleaner and is your granny doesn’t mean she know so much. she might heard some stuff but most likely she heard it from people who wash the toilet, getting the grass greener and so on. not from agents and people who actually have the big responsibility.
and it just make no sense at all that we are after 3 expensive players and if that fails we will target a cheap option… come on man. that sounds way stupid. he will bring in players who are good enough for us this season and we will be title contenders as always.
My dog plays at the same park as arsene wengers dog,I have an amazing ability to speak to my dog and he told me that we’re trying to sign cristiano ronaldo for £7.50 and a packet of hobnobs,the deals hinging on whether Emmanuel eboue agrees to his contract demands of having to do a 5 minute reinactment of each individual dance from night fever everytime ronaldo scores a goal,we’re also set to trade bendtner for a street lamp that we will stick on the penalty spot and ping balls at till one rebounds into the net,no keeper will be able to deal with it,finally my dog also says he’s been tapped up by arsene personally,I’m not happy as I bought him and arsenal should be speaking to me,apparently gilles grimandi happened to be passing by and saw my dog run 50yards and catch a tennis ball 6foot in the air and then launch the ball straight back at me,due to my dog being 5 (35 in dog years) they see him as the perfect gialkeeping experience that won’t ‘kill’ szczesnys career..my dog doesn’t lie…
Whats all this about Grannies? lol. Anyways….
Looks like Jordan Henderson is joining Liverpool which supposedly is for around 20 million pounds. I bring this up because this shows you how difficult the football market is now. 20 million pounds gets you a player that is not even a full time international. Football is not sustainable at this rate. I hope these financial rules work out. By the way, this shows you why Wenger does not usually buy english.
I see you point that Henderson is no way worth £20m at the moment. But the counter arguement would be that at 20 years old, he has the potential to play on at liverpool for 10-15 years. so an orginal out lay of 20mil wouldn’t be that bad, IF and i do mean if, he stayed at the club and was successful. The same goes for Smalling, at the time i thought we were lucky not to have had to pay out like united did for him, now its obvious that we missed out big time, the same also goes for Phil Jones, reports are his at United for a medical and i fear we will lose out again.
That is the point. 20 million pounds is not suppose to be a gamble price. If he turned out great then 20 million should be what he is worth. Unproven players especially ones that have not exactly lit up the world should not cost you 20 million pounds.
All this talk of Grannies has probably got Rooney aroused.