Arsenal returned to Premier League action with a comprehensive 4-0 win over a disappointing Watford side.
Not only did they take their chances at one end, they also kept the opposition out at the other – both things the Gunners have struggled with this season.
So what’s going on?
Well, it seems as if injury could, once again, have handed Arsene Wenger a solution to his midfield instability.
Since they’ve been playing together, Arsenal have not conceded a goal when Mohamed Elneny and Francis Coquelin have been on the pitch.
Arsenal are yet to concede a Premier League goal when Elneny & Coquelin have been on the pitch (235 minutes). #afc pic.twitter.com/VIE5Vbyu13
— afcstuff (@afcstuff) April 2, 2016
Sure, it’s a small sample, but let’s get excited – we haven’t in a while.Last season Wenger was forced to recall Coquelin and his partnership with Santi Cazorla
Last season Wenger was forced to recall Coquelin and his partnership with Santi Cazorla was heralded throughout the final part of the season. This year, as injury struck once again, Wenger was forced to through Elneny into regular action earlier than he probably would have liked.
This year, as injury struck once again, Wenger had to throw Elneny into regular action earlier than he probably would have liked.
The results, however, he must be loving.
Coquelin looks much more stable and more like the player who shone beside Cazorla, not the one who has struggled beside Ramsey.
What Wenger does when Cazorla, Ramsey and Wilshere return is anyone’s guess, but what a lovely problem to have.