Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Le Coq has been offered a new deal, and he’s confident the midfielder will sign it.

Making a dramatic impact since his recall from his loan spell with Charlton, Coquelin is out of contract in the summer and it had looked like his Arsenal time was coming to an end until recently.

When injury crisis forced Wenger’s hand and the Frenchman joined the first team squad, many were sceptical that he would be able to do an adequate job as the enforcer charged with protecting Arsenal’s back four.

Now, the majority have been won around, especially after his fierce display against Manchester City on Sunday.

Speaking to the media in his pre-Brighton press conference, Wenger confirmed that the player had indeed been offered a new deal, that he was hopeful that the midfielder would sign it and that he can be a long-term solution for the club.

Wenger said

Yes, we have offered him a new deal. I am confident that it will be done.

Yes, of course [he can be a long-term solution]. He is a very young player. You look just at what happens on the pitch. Win the ball and make a good pass, in his position that is important.

Wenger also took the time to explain why he had sent Coquelin out on loan in the first place.

He added

I saw that he made huge improvements in training and I explained to him that for me to give him a potential chance, he needed match practice. I could not give him that, I could give him that only if he played somewhere else before. He took the challenge, he came back and since I have played him, he is doing well.