Expectation is always wrapped in hope, and hope they say springs
eternal. Yet expectation does not always come to the fore when there
is little or nothing to anchor hope on. Although, there are moments
you do not have to anchor hope on anything, but hope can sometimes be
against hope.
The latter description was the situation Francis Coquelin and Hector
Bellerin found themselves in last season. At the beginning of last
season's pre-season, they were peripheral figures. Coquelin had just
returned from an uneventful loan spell at bundesliga side, Frieburg.
While Bellerin was still with the U-21s. They were not in the first
team picture. But, Bellerin's participation in last year's Emirates
Cup offered a glimmer of hope.
However, both players have become pivotal figures in the Arsenal
squad. After an unexpected rebirth that was not anchored on any
expectation from those of Arsenal persuasion as few saw it coming.
Yet, after their strong showing last season, when nobody expected them
to perform as they did, this season will bring about a different
expectation altogether.
Already, Arsene Wenger has been quick to mention the fact that both of
them will have to maintain the consistency they showed last season as
they deal with a new expectation. The
Frenchman was particularly weary about the second second syndrome that
has become prevalent with players after a good season previously.
While Francis Coqueln can easily lay claim to the defensive midfield
position without much fuss in the first team due to his performance
last season, and
the fact that Mikel Arteta is not expected to play much this season,
the same cannot be said of Hector Bellerin, who will have to keep up
his remarkable consistency because of the presence of Mathieu Debuchy.
Arsene Wenger had pointed out that the 29 year old being an
experienced France international, will definitely give the younger
Bellerin some stern competition.
The experience of Debuchy cannot be overlooked despite the strong
showing of Bellerin in that position. The former Lille defender has
more to his game defensively with his aerial prowess, and the fact
that he does not rush into tackles in the penalty box, something that
Bellerin did several times last season.
With his performance in last weekend's Baclarys Asia Trophy against
Everton in Singapore, he looks primed to kick on from where he stopped
last season.
Without doubt he has come a long way after the baptism of fire at the
Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund last September, where he looked lost in
a Champions League group match. Arsene Wenger might decide to rotate
both him and Debuchy for that position. However, with Wenger's
fondness for stability, he might decide to stick with one of them for
most of the games this season.
The competition this would provide
should be a catalyst for Hector Bellerin to add more to his game,
because as young player, who is still learning his trade, he has more
capacity to improve the grey areas in his game.
The situation with Francis Coquelin is quite different from Hector
Bellerin. Coquelin though the most defensive of Arsenal's midfielders,
still has something in his game he needs to iron out. His ability to
retain possession when pressed by the opposition being one, his
passing accuracy and long balls being the other. While his non
existent attacking contribution when the team is chasing a game as
noticed by the fact that he was a target for substitution when Arsene
Wenger needed another attacking player to join the fray. That alone
means he would always be the fall guy if he does not add something
extra to his game as a defensive midfielder.
The modern day defensive midfielder does not stop at protecting the
back four, they are also to intiate attacks and keep hold of the ball.
This is where Mikel Arteta's role remains a key part of the team's
midfield evolution despite his age and lack of pace.
With Mathieu Flamini continually being linked with a move to Turkey,
it leaves a space in midfield. Little wonder, Spanish daily, Mundo
Deportivo, ran with a story on Wednesday that Barcelona defensive
midfielder, Sergi Samper is interesting Arsene Wenger. The Frenchman
had wanted to sign him with Hector Bellerin and Jon Toral in 2011.
Looking at his style of football, he could be said to be a younger
version of Mikel Arteta, schooled in the La Masia art of being adept
in possession.
Yet, Francis Coquelin will have an head start in midfield this season,
despite that short coming of his on the ball, he showed his ability on
it in the FA Cup final in May when there was space to exploit. It is
when there is none that is where the issues lies.
For Hector Bellerin and Francis Coquelin, it is a new expectation in
the coming season, and new expectation requires consistency in the
midst of competition. How they cope with that remains to be seen.
Photo Credit: Arsenal
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