Arsenal line up a replacement for Francis Coquelin with Lars Bender and William Carvalho on shortlist to replace injured star
- Arsenal news: All the latest from the Emirates
- Arsenal have drawn up a list of possible replacements for Francis Coquelin
- Defensive midfielder Coquelin has been ruled out of action for two months
- The Gunners may have missed a trick in not signing Morgan Schneiderlin
- Lars Bender, William Carvalho and Nampalys Mendy are all on shortlist
So the gamble backfired.
Having banked on Francis Coquelin going through the season without picking up an injury, Arsene Wenger now has a problem. A big problem.
Sportsmail revealed on Sunday night that Arsenal's first-choice defensive central midfielder will miss the rest of the year and the start of 2016 after severely damaging knee ligaments against West Brom on Saturday.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger may dip into the January transfer window following an injury to Francis Coquelin
Aaron Ramsey (centre) or Mathieu Flamini (right) may be asked to fill in for Coquelin against Dinamo Zagreb
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could also fill the void when he returns to fitness if Wenger does not splash the cash
Midfielder Jack Wilshere (right, pictured on August 1, 2015) is expected to be back in training next month
So when Wenger confirmed the news during his pre-Dinamo Zagreb press conference you have to wonder whether he was regretting not signing, at the very least, a back-up for Coquelin in the summer.
For now, he'll rely on Aaron Ramsey and out-of-favour Mathieu Flamini to fill the gaping hole left by Coquelin until at least the turn of the year.
Indeed, this is the moment Ramsey's been waiting for.
He's been shunted out to the right flank this season to accommodate the burgeoning central midfield partnership of Coquelin and Santi Cazorla.
Ask those behind the scenes; Ramsey hasn't been overly enamoured by it.
So – albeit at Coquelin's expense – the Welshman could not have timed his return from a hamstring injury any better.
And with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain approaching full fitness and Jack Wilshere due to return to training towards the end of December, Wenger could argue splashing out on a new midfielder in January isn't necessary.
Nevertheless, money will be made available to the Arsenal manager to bolster his injury ravaged squad in January.
Arsenal were keeping tabs on Morgan Schneiderlin before his summer move to Manchester United
Germany international Lars Bender is under consideration by Arsenal following rave reviews by their scouts
William Carvalho (left, pictured against FC Arouca) has been linked with a move to England in the past
It's never quite that simple with Arsenal when it comes to transfers, however.
Scouts have conducted extensive work, particularly with regards to a defensive midfielders, over the past two years.
There's a stockpile of dossiers on holding middle men at the club's London Colney HQ after the club put a big-name midfield lynchpin at the top of their shopping list in the summer of 2013.
Yet, despite the air and road miles accumulated by Arsenal's network of scouts, they signed Flamini on a free transfer.
Lars Bender, Morgan Schneiderlin and William Carvalho have earned rave reviews by Gunners spies in recent seasons.
Bender and Carvalho remain on the list - but getting them out of Bayer Leverkusen and Sporting Lisbon, respectively, will prove problematic in January.
Grzegorz Krychowiak at Sevilla, who has recently appointed an English-based agent, has been watched but he has just signed a new long-term deal with the La Liga club.
Lazio star Lucas Biglia was one of those considered during the summer of 2013; but at 29, the Gunners are unlikely to take a punt on the Argentine as their would be little sell-on value given his age.
Sevilla's Grzegorz Krychowiak (left, pictured with Gareth Bale) has been closed watched by English clubs
Lucas Biglia's age may stop Wenger from making a move from the 29-year-old Argentina international
Arsenal have also watched Nice duo Vincent Koziello and Nampalys Mendy.
January looks like the perfect time to finally follow through with what they've been threatening for over two years.
Wenger, however, doesn't like signing players in the January window.
He feels you don't get value for money while options are more extensive during the summer window.
Nice duo Vincent Koziello (left) and Nampalys Mendy (right) have also been watched by Arsenal scouts
However, needs must. This is Arsenal's best chance of mounting a sustained title challenge in years.
The groundwork has already been done. Arsenal have all the information they need at their finger tips.
Of course, it's not as simple as that. Clubs have to be willing to sell, players have to be willing to come.
The money's there, though. This isn't a time to be rummaging through the January bargain bins.
Wenger must bypass the cut-price New Year deals and head for the expensive non-sale section - even if it is over-priced.
Their title challenge could depend on it.
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