After a series of short-term fixes, the statistics suggest that Arsenal have found a long-term solution to their defensive midfield problem in Francis Coquelin...
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"It is quite comforting knowing that one of the midfielders is behind you in position, thinking more defensively," said Aaron Ramsey on his club's official website. Conceding that there's now more security at Arsenal may seem like an obvious statement, but it's a telling one nonetheless.
Given the Gunners' reluctance to splash the cash in the defensive midfield department, the development of Francis Coquelin seems like a real luxury. The decision to recall the Frenchman from a loan spell at Charlton was only enforced due to a Ramsey injury at the tail end of last year and he looked likely to join a long line of quick fixes in the middle of the park.
Mikel Arteta has been tasked with the defensive role at the Emirates more than any other in recent seasons, converted from his playmaking days with Rangers and Everton, while the likes of Mathieu Flamini and Kim Kallstrom have been signed as short-term solutions to a long-term problem. Suggesting that Coquelin may be more than that would have earned you pelters only months ago, but the form of the 23-year old has coincided with a purple patch for Arsenal that hasn't been entirely coincidental.
At , we have gone through the stats that suggest Arsene Wenger may have inadvertently stumbled upon the remedy to an issue that has held back his side for years.
The Arsenal boss would be lying if he claimed to have foreseen just how well Coquelin would play since returning to the club in December. Sent out on loan to Freiburg last season, the midfielder's time in the Bundesliga was something of a mixed bag, sent off on his debut before injuries and positional changes had an effect on his form. Having been loaned to Charlton in November last year it seemed that this season - one that he will end aged 24 - may well be his last at Arsenal.
However, it didn't take too long for Coquelin to convince Wenger of the role he has to play in this squad, awarded with a new long-term contract last month on the back of a fantastic start to the year. Most felt that the Frenchman's form would dip sooner or later but, as of yet, it has not.
In fact, Coquelin's statistical rating from WhoScored.com is now enough to rank eighth in the Premier League, with a score of 7.53 jumping him ahead of Chelsea's Nemanja Matic following this weekend's matches. To compare the two players may seem a little rash but the effect that the Arsenal man has had on the side in the second half of this season is not dissimilar to that of the returning Serbian to Stamford Bridge last year.
Coquelin set upon staking his claim at Arsenal with the right attitude, knowing that he would have to put in the hard yards to persuade Wenger of his ability to shore up a side so vulnerable to counter-attacks. His early all-action displays were typical of a young player feeling he had a point to prove but, three months down the line, there's more to Coquelin than merely his unwavering work rate.
To say there's a swagger to his game may be overstating things - he flies around the pitch too much for that - but there's an assuredness to his play that suggests Coquelin believes that he belongs in an Arsenal shirt. The numbers would certainly back up that belief.
Since the turn of the year, Francis Coquelin has played more league minutes than any other Arsenal player (988), making a combined total of 92 tackles and interceptions in that time - 29 more than any other Premier League player. His willingness to compete isn't restricted to duels on the ground, however, and despite standing at a modest 5'10", he has won more aerial duels per game (3.1) than his lofty teammate Per Mertesacker (3) this season, with an impressive 66.7% success rate. Coquelin is not only more willing but also more able to compete in the defensive phase than his senior predecessors.
Meanwhile, he's beginning to look more and more comfortable on the ball too, so much so that Ramsey claimed that he "makes us (Arsenal) tick over". He's certainly kept things simple, but a pass success rate of 83% could perhaps do with a little work to really get up to Arsenal standards. It is, rather, his composure in tight situations that has improved in recent months, completing all 16 of his dribble attempts from 15 league appearances - more than any other Premier League player who has yet to fail with a single take-on this season.
With all this in mind, it will be intriguing to see whether Arsenal are active in the transfer market for a defensive midfielder this summer if Coquelin can continue his form between now and May. One would think not, if their previous dealings are anything to go by, but given Coquelin's indisputable role in a run of nine wins from ten in the league, Arsenal fans will be far less concerned if they look to utilise their budget elsewhere this summer.
All statistics courtesy of , where you can find yet more stats, including live in-game data and unique player and team ratings. You can follow all the scores, statistics, live player and team ratings with the new free-to-download .