Jamie Redknapp: Arsenal lack strength in depth and will struggle without Francis Coquelin

Arsenal's Francis Coquelin being treated during the 2-1 defeat to West Brom

JAMIE REDKNAPP reckons Arsenal’s loss of Francis Coquelin and their lack of ‘strength in depth’ in the midfield department will hamper their Premier League title bid.

 

The Gunners suffered a 2-1 defeat to West Brom on Saturday with both Coquelin, who is expected to be sidelined for three months with suspected knee ligament damage, and club captain Mikel Arteta sustaining injuries.

These setbacks add to the already long injury list which includes Aaron Ramsey, Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Tomas Rosicky. 

 

As it looks as if Arsene Wenger will be forced into playing 31-year-old Mathieu Flamini over the crucial Christmas period. 

The 24-year-old anchor has become a key player for the Gunners since returning from his loan spell at Charlton, and Redknapp insists that without the Frenchman’s defensive solidity Arsenal will struggle. 

"Every team seems to have one player they can’t do without. At Arsenal it’s Francis Coquelin," the Sky Sports pundit wrote in his Daily Mail column. 

 

"As soon as he went off on Saturday, you could tell things would go wrong. It’s the moment Arsenal fans have been afraid of because they don’t have a player who can do the job he does — and now he’s facing months on the sidelines.

"Every year Arsenal seem to suffer with injuries but they just don’t have the strength in depth in that department. Defeat by West Brom was a disastrous result and now, rather than looking ahead, they are looking over their shoulder."

Arsenal currently sit fourth in the table just two points behind league leaders Leicester.