Forgotten Arsenal favourite offered shock trial at Championship club Leeds
Francis Coquelin is undergoing a trial with Leeds United, talkSPORT understands. The former Arsenal star is training at Thorp Arch with the view to earning a contract with the Championship club. Francis Coquelin is having a trial with Leeds UnitedGetty Coquelin is currently without a club having left Villarreal over the summer. The 33-year-old will be remembered for his time in north London with the midfielder joining as a 17-year-old in 2008. After impressing on trial, Coquelin went on to become a first team player with the Gunners, making 160 appearances during his time at the club. However his time with the club wasn’t without his fair share of struggle, taking eight years to establish himself as a regular under Arsene Wenger. Loan spells with Lorient and SC Freiburg did little for his first team prospects, but a brief spell with Charlton proved to be the catalyst as he returned to the Emirates Stadium and grabbed his opportunity with both hands. Among his most memorable displays was the 2015 FA Cup final in which Coquelin played a key role in Arsenal’s 4-0 win over Aston Villa. Nearly 10 years after joining, Coquelin completed a permanent move to Spanish side Valencia in January 2018 for a fee worth £14million. There he made 89 appearances and helped them to the Copa de Rey crown in 2019, before joining Villarreal after 18 months. During his time there, Coquelin played under Unai Emery and helped the team to Europa League glory in 2021. However, with a contract that expired at the end of last term, the midfielder is now looking for his next opportunity in football. Coquelin most recently played for Villarreal where he helped them to Europa League glorygetty Francis Coquelin career statistics Appearances (goals) Arsenal – 160 (3) Lorient – 25 (1) – loan SC Freiburg 24 (1) – loan Charlton 5 (0) – loan Valencia – 89 (1) Villarreal 107 (6) Major honours Arsenal – FA Cup – 2014/15, 2016/17 Valencia – Copa de Rey – 2018/19 Villarreal – UEFA Europa League – 2020/21 Leeds are looking for a midfielder having lost both first-choice midfielders Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev to recent knee injuries. They had agreed a deal to sign Cheikhou Kouyate on a short-term deal, however that move fell through after an issue arose in his medical. Tests showed that the free agent would not be fit to play for several weeks resulting in club chiefs pulling the plug on a short-term deal for the former Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace man. Daniel Farke is keen to avoid derailing his side’s efficient start to the season with the Whites sitting in fifth place in the Championship, three points adrift of leaders. Leeds have lost just one of their opening nine league games and go into Friday night’s mouthwatering clash with second-placed Sheffield United, which is live on talkSPORT, full of confidence after their 2-2 draw as Sunderland last time out. Farke will be forced to field a patched up midfield for Friday’s clash at Elland Road with Joe Rothwell and Ao Tanaka set to deputise.
Francis Coquelin is undergoing a trial with Leeds United, talkSPORT understands.
The former Arsenal star is training at Thorp Arch with the view to earning a contract with the Championship club.
Coquelin is currently without a club having left Villarreal over the summer.
The 33-year-old will be remembered for his time in north London with the midfielder joining as a 17-year-old in 2008.
After impressing on trial, Coquelin went on to become a first team player with the Gunners, making 160 appearances during his time at the club.
However his time with the club wasn’t without his fair share of struggle, taking eight years to establish himself as a regular under Arsene Wenger.
Loan spells with Lorient and SC Freiburg did little for his first team prospects, but a brief spell with Charlton proved to be the catalyst as he returned to the Emirates Stadium and grabbed his opportunity with both hands.
Among his most memorable displays was the 2015 FA Cup final in which Coquelin played a key role in Arsenal’s 4-0 win over Aston Villa.
Nearly 10 years after joining, Coquelin completed a permanent move to Spanish side Valencia in January 2018 for a fee worth £14million.
There he made 89 appearances and helped them to the Copa de Rey crown in 2019, before joining Villarreal after 18 months.
During his time there, Coquelin played under Unai Emery and helped the team to Europa League glory in 2021.
However, with a contract that expired at the end of last term, the midfielder is now looking for his next opportunity in football.
Francis Coquelin career statistics
Appearances (goals)
Arsenal – 160 (3)
Lorient – 25 (1) – loan
SC Freiburg 24 (1) – loan
Charlton 5 (0) – loan
Valencia – 89 (1)
Villarreal 107 (6)
Major honours
Arsenal – FA Cup – 2014/15, 2016/17
Valencia – Copa de Rey – 2018/19
Villarreal – UEFA Europa League – 2020/21
Leeds are looking for a midfielder having lost both first-choice midfielders Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev to recent knee injuries.
They had agreed a deal to sign Cheikhou Kouyate on a short-term deal, however that move fell through after an issue arose in his medical.
Tests showed that the free agent would not be fit to play for several weeks resulting in club chiefs pulling the plug on a short-term deal for the former Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace man.
Daniel Farke is keen to avoid derailing his side’s efficient start to the season with the Whites sitting in fifth place in the Championship, three points adrift of leaders.
Leeds have lost just one of their opening nine league games and go into Friday night’s mouthwatering clash with second-placed Sheffield United, which is live on talkSPORT, full of confidence after their 2-2 draw as Sunderland last time out.
Farke will be forced to field a patched up midfield for Friday’s clash at Elland Road with Joe Rothwell and Ao Tanaka set to deputise.
