Now 30 years of age, Francis Coquelin is continuing his career in Spain, having moved there in January 2018 from Arsenal in a £12.6m transfer to Valencia.
He has since switched to Villarreal, where currently plays under Unai Emery in a rotational role, starting six of a possible 12 games in La Liga this season.
He’s happy there, contracted to the club until 2024, but he’ll never forget the 10 years he spent at Arsenal.
Totalling 160 games for the Gunners amid loans to Lorient, Freiburg and Charlton, the midfielder was an important piece of the North London club at times, only knowing Arsène Wenger as his manager during his time there.
That’s why he’ll forever be grateful to both Arsenal and the former manager, explaining as much to El Periódico Meditteráneo.
He said: “I was very young when Arsenal signed me. I wasn’t even 18 years old. I learnt a lot there, and was trained as player and a person. I was, between loans, 10 years at Arsenal. It’s a lifetime. It is my home”.
Asked what influence Wenger had on him, the answer was very simple: “All of it. He signed me, he made me work hard, he taught me… he’s like second father to me.
Arsène was a very important person in my career, because he helped me both in football and in person. I will always thank him for the trust he placed in me”.
His breakthrough in the Premier League side came after five years or so, and everything he achieved was ‘based on work and not giving up’.
As he puts it, ‘elite football is not easy and only those who are constant, ambitious and mentally very strong remain’.
