Coquelin praises Charlton

Francis Coquelin tells the official Arsenal website that his time at Charlton helped him to turn his career around. He had a great time at The Valley and met some great people there: Coquelin

Liverpool have joined race for Gomez

Liverpool have joined Arsenal and Manchester City in the race for the signature of Joe Gomez: Joe Gomez

He might then be sent out on loan. However, Arsenal are still thought to be leading the race given the links between the two clubs, exemplified by the loan of Francis Coquelin. Ironically, Wenger is thinking of signing another defensive midfielder to take Coquelin's place.

The latest word is that the deal with Liverpool will be sealed this week, £3.5m plus add ons. This is a quarter of the valuation suggested by Acworth below.

That figure comes from Liverpool sources and Richard Cawley of the SLP thinks that the deal could be worth £10m: More money?

The rise of Francis Coquelin

This report reckons that Francis Coquelin is now the best defensive midfielder in the Premiership (and it does mention Charlton): Francis Coquelin

His progress since his loan spell should encourage Arsenal to lend us other promising players in the future.

On something else, here you can see the wonder goal scored by Charlton's youth keeper Dimitar Mitov: World record broken?

Congratulations to Coquelin

He was voted Man of the Match in last night's FA Cup quarter final between Manchester United and Arsenal. Moreover, the commentators said that his loan spell at The Valley seem to have transformed him.

At the time the indignity of playing in SE7 was seen as the final nail in the Frenchman's career and Arsene Wenger was preparing to release him in the summer: Coquelin

At the time he thanked Charlton for the loan spell: Merci beaucoup

Buyens could start against Blackpool

With Johnnie Jackson out injured, Yoni Buyens could start against Blackpool as he returns to full fitness: Line Up

We often wonder what Jackson contributes until he goes off and then something seems to be missing, perhaps the spaces he fills as he reads the game are then unoccupied. Buyens impressed me at the start of the season, but then seemed to fall away.

Selection problems increased with the news that Francis Coquelin has been recalled to Arsenal to ease a defensive crisis: Coquelin. Radio 5 seemed to think he was on loan at Leicester.

Coquelin to stay until end of year

Arsenal have confirmed that the loan stay of Francis Coquelin at Charlton is to be extended until December 30th: Coquelin

Coquelin could extend stay

Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin has said that he could extend his loan stay at The Valley if all goes well. He knew a lot about the club before he came and watched them play last Saturday: Coquelin

Charlton have fallen to 10th in the table after Brentford won at Nottingham Forest.