They were two of the biggest success stories to emerge from last season’s double-winning run, but which one has the biggest chance of making it as a first-team regular at Arsenal.
Emmanuel Frimpong and Francis Coquelin gelled immediately following the latter’s arrival from Laval last summer, and their distinct understanding of eachother’s game has earned them both many admirers.
Both were on the fringes of the Carling Cup squad last season and this year they will be looking to push themselves into Arsene Wenger’s thinking. Coquelin appears closer to the first-team at present, although this is more to him being slightly older than Frimpong than anything else.
Coquelin and Frimpong both possess the ability to break up play effectively and distribute the ball to their team-mates, although one aspect of their games which needs improving is their goalscoring ability (they scored just three goals between them last season), but there is no doubt that they both have fantastically bright futures ahead of them.
It could be argued that Frimpong’s absence from the side is more detrimental to the team’s wellbeing. This was perhaps best shown in the FA Youth Cup Final 2nd leg when Arsenal, missing the injured Frimpong, struggled to dominate the midfield in the way that they previously had.
The under-18s preference for a 4-2-3-1 formation for the majority of last season meant that both players got a chance as regulars in the starting XI, but, as they progress to the Reserves and ultimately the first-team, chances will become more and more limited.
Coquelin has another string to his bow in that he can play right-back, although Frimpong possesses a more powerful shot.
It is an intriguing debate and one which you can participate in by leaving your thoughts in the comments section below.
