Francis Coquelin names the two Arsenal players who are really ‘flourishing’ under Arteta

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Former Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin has heaped praise on Mikel Arteta for the work he has done at the Emirates as the manager.

The Frenchman knows Arteta very well having played and trained alongside him on numerous occasions. He knows his former skipper’s mentality as a player, and he has now claimed that the Spaniard hasn’t changed on that front at all.

Coquelin has noticed that the Arsenal boss gives a chance to players who show him something good on the pitch irrespective of their age. According to the former Gunner, Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka are excellent examples of that.

He said on the Pure Football podcast: “You have to give him (Arteta) time.

“He’s giving a lot of game time to the young players as well, which they are giving back because they are performing really well. The likes of Saka and Emile Smith Rowe this year, they have been flourishing for Mikel.

“I think that shows that he has the mentality that if you play well and if you add something to the team he will play you. He’s always been like that, so I’m happy for him.”

The Insider’s View:

Saka and Smith Rowe have really flourished under Arteta this season. The pair have arguably been Arsenal’s best players since Christmas, and without them, we would probably be in the bottom half of the table.

Ironically, it was Unai Emery who gave the two youngsters their debut at Arsenal. They have improved massively under Arteta now and if things go their way tonight, the Hale End duo will inflict some serious pain on their former boss.

Coquelin is expected to play some part in the big game tonight. He, like Emery, would love nothing more than to get one over Arsenal, but if we play to our full potential, we should come away with a comfortable win.