Wenger considers Calum Chambers as a possible replacement for Coquelin with Mathieu Flamini being another option for the vacant midfield spot.
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Now, the consequences of Wenger’s famous transfer conservatism are being played out.
Now the nightmare has happened with the news that Francis Coquelin will be out for the remainder of 2015 and could be sidelined for the next three months with the knee injury sustained in Saturday’s defeat at West Brom. It was precisely the kind of tackle which has made him such an integral member of the team, but it was imperfectly executed and the results could be dire.
-Ozil now has 11 assists in the Premier League this season, five more than any other player.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger hinted that he may use the January transfer window to strengthen his injury-ridden squad, as reported by MirrorFootball. The worst fear for Arsenal fans is that no reinforcements are forthcoming, not even a Kim Kallstrom-style emergency move.
They had 78 per cent of the possession, seemed set for a landslide when they eased ahead; cast themselves into the abyss with a few schoolboy defending; missed a penalty; hit the post; missed an open goal; lost two players to injury and slunk back to North London in fourth place when they could have topped the Premier League.
Arsenal did, though, have the better of the opening half-hour, with Alexis Sanchez’s floated free-kick well held by keeper Boaz Myhill, and were first to score.
Albion did have a third goal disallowed when Jonas Olsson’s header was judged not to have crossed the line but they escaped in the 84th minute after a moment Cazorla will struggle to forget.
The reality is that Flamini is a very limited player. Yet if results go Arsenal’s way in midweek, they will travel to Olympiakos for their final group match on December 9 knowing a win could send them through depending on the margin of victory.
“But overall I felt it dropped a huge blow when we scored and we just had to make sure they didn’t come back with a easy goal and that is where we were disappointed today”.
The Gunners are determined to hold on to their key players and are willing to thrash out mega-money contracts if need be.
Coquelin was recalled from his loan at Charlton Athletic a year ago, when a similar injury crisis threatened to derail Arsenal’s season.
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With Aaron Ramsey also returning to action, there is a chance that he could occupy one of the central midfield roles, though it would take a certain defensive quality away from the side.
