Francis Coquelin

Francis Coquelin is a French football player who currently plays as adefensive midfielder for English club Arsenal. Coquelin began his career playing for AS Laval Bourny before departing in 2005 for Stade Lavallois. In July 2008, Coquelin joined Arsenal from Stade Lavallois following a successful trial with the club. Coquelin scored his first goal in an Arsenal shirt in a reserve match against Stoke City on 5 October 2008. Coquelin was a regular for Arsenal F.C. Reserves during the 2009-10 season, playing 12 times and scoring twice. During the 2010-2011 season, he was sent away on loan to FC Lorient. He made his Lorient debut as a second-half substitute in the 2–1 home defeat to Nice on 14 August 2010. Coquelin scored his first goal ,which also turned out to be the winning goal, in professional football as FC Lorient beat Stade Rennais F.C. 2–1. After spending pre-season at the U-20 World Cup with France, Coquelin returned to Arsenal and on 28 August 2011 made his first team league debut against Manchester United. Coquelin made his second Premier League start for Arsenal in the North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur. Coquelin was voted as Arsenal.com’s Man of the Match by fans for the first time. Coquelin is a French youth international having earned caps for the under-17s, under-18s, under-19s, under-20s and under-21s. Coquelin played a key role in France winning the 2010 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship.