Francis Coquelin could be a future first-team right back for Arsenal, if he impresses during a three-month Reserve team apprenticeship in the position. The Frenchman has been moved from his preferred and now congested holding midfield role in the hope that his combative qualities can be transformed into a new area of the park.
The 18-year-old has now traded places with Craig Eastmond in their bid to both make the grade with the Gunners. Just 12 months ago Craig was the first-choice full-back and Francis the powerful central midfielder in the successful Under 18 ‘double’ winning side. Yet they now will learn different positions as Arsène Wenger looks to blend their qualities into the first-team.
Coquelin made his Carling Cup and FA Cup debuts in the right back slot and now a run honing the trade under Neil Banfield’s guidance will see whether Francis can really make the position his own and fight Bacary Sagna and Emmanuel Eboue for the right to start. His performances will have ramifications as to whether Kerrea Gilbert and Gavin Hoyte remain in North London.
Speaking to Arsenal TV Online earlier in the week, Coquelin confirmed his intention to learn the role and hopefully kick on and add to his small selection of appearances;
“It’s good to be versatile. I can play right back, I can also play in midfield. They have given me a chance at right-back, they think I can play here. So I’m learning it and I hope it will pay off”
The firm intention remains for Francis to learn during the final months of the Reserves League South campaign, with a possible loan next term the aim as Wenger looks to add the unlikely transformation of this once promising midfielder into a feared and rugged full-back.
