• Premier League

Wenger admits he was ready to let Coquelin leave Arsenal

Arsene Wenger admits Francis Coquelin could have been on his way out of Arsenal this season but has credited the midfielder for turning around his career at the club.

Coquelin, who started the season on loan to Championship side Charlton, impressed once again in his defensive midfield role as Arsenal saw off Everton 2-0 on Sunday to move back into third place in the Premier League.

When asked whether Coquelin was part of his first-team plans at the start of the season, Wenger said: "He was not. I told him to give absolutely everything until Christmas, then we would see together where he was. If you respect that you have done a big part of your job."

With just a year left on his Arsenal contract heading into this season, Wenger was already considering allowing the midfielder, who has been at Arsenal since 2008, to move on.

"In myself, I thought if he doesn't play at Christmas at all, and there's only six months of his contract to go, I [would] let him go somewhere else," said Wenger, who awarded a new long-term contract to Coquelin last month.

"It is a surprise to everybody. The only thing I do is that I never say never to anybody. In my job you have to be open-minded like that. You have to make decisions at times, but never close the door completely for anybody.

"He wasn't happy when I called him back [from his loan spell]. He played there and he thought I just called him back as cover. He expected in fact to play against QPR and was not playing and was surprised when I played him against West Ham.

"He knows it's an opportunity for him now. Sometimes when you wait for such a long time to get your chance and you get it, the more you have suffered before, the more you enjoy it.

"On that front I think he has gone through a lot of doubt, questioning himself, certainly at many times being discouraged that he didn't get a chance. Now that he has a chance he doesn't want to let it slip away, but he is a winner and he wants to win, that's why he is so committed."

Wenger is hopeful Coquelin will be available for Wednesday's Premier League game at Queens Park Rangers, despite fracturing his nose during the Everton victory last weekend.

Francis Coquelin has impressed since returning early from a loan spell at Charlton this season © Getty Images

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