Arsenal legend Gilberto Silva has admitted that he believes Francis Coquelin is the first player since he left the Gunners to adequately fill the defensive midfielder role.

Although this is a huge compliment to the young Frenchman, it also signals how much we might struggle without him.

“Since I left if I am not wrong Arsenal didn’t have a player to fill that role until him,” Gilberto said.

“They had some other players in that position like Mikel Arteta, Mathieu Flamini, and before that Cesc Fabregas.

“But not this type of player, the guy who holds the piano to let the others play.”

The midfielder picked up a knee injury during our 2-1 loss against West Brom at the Hawthorns and it’s turned out to be the worst case scenario. It’s unlikely we’ll see Coq again for at least three months and we all know how that goes. I’ll be happy just to see him again this season.

Although we have Mathieu Flamini still fit, it’s only sensible now that we dip into the transfer market in January and buy a decent, reputable defensive midfielder. I love Arteta but with his injury record getting worse and worse as he ages, I fear he won’t hold up much longer.