Adrien Rabiot vs Coquelin
Arsenal’s requirement for a central midfielder is growing as the days go by. The need for someone to hold the Arsenal midfield is even more important due to the injuries to Coquelin and Wilshere while the likes of Arteta and Cazorla aren’t getting any younger, oh and they too are injured at the moment.
The desperation seems to hit high times for the Gunners but Arsene Wenger is frugal with his expenses and especially in the January transfer window, where most teams do not actually have a great time with their returns, Andrei Arshavin would be one example, though he did have some really good games for the Gunners during his spell.
One player who has been linked with a move away from his club has been Adrien Rabiot. The 20-year-old French midfielder has been one of the stars for PSG since breaking into the first team but he hasn’t cemented a place in the team due to the number of stars already present at the club.
Arsenal could well try to sign the talented midfielder but if Coquelin gets back to full fitness, would Rabiot actually be that good a signing since only one of them would regularly start for the Gunners? Using Squawka.com, the duo’s stats for this year’s league season is compared.
A French star in the making but which one?
Looking at the per 90-minute metrics for both players they seem to have the same pass completion rate in the heart of the midfield with 91% in their respective leagues. However, it is the PSG man who has a higher number of successful passes per 90 minutes with 74 while Coquelin comes in with 51.
While distributing the ball is one of the jobs for the midfielders, keeping the opposition in check is a more important one. When it comes to tackling, the duo are almost inseparable with Rabiot coming in with 3.8 tackles per 90 minutes while Arsenal’s Coquelin manages 3.1 tackles per 90 minutes.
Winning aerial battles would be another stat that is won by Rabiot as the 20-year-old wins more than 2/3rds of his battles in the air while Coquelin only managers to win 50% of his aerial duels. But the Arsenal midfielder does get the better of Rabiot when it comes to other contributions to the defensive side of the game.
The French star at Arsenal makes more than 3.2 interceptions per 90 minutes while Rabiot only makes 2.4 interceptions in the same time period. It is in clearances that the Arsenal star creates even more space between him and Rabiot with 1.3 clearances per 90 minutes while Rabiot makes 0.3 clearances per 90.
Francis Coquelin
While Rabiot does get forward a bit more often than Coquelin, he seems to be a better tackler than the Arsenal midfielder. Coquelin for his part seems to be better at reading the opposition and taking the bite out of their attack. Arsenal might need to get some cover for their midfield and signing Rabiot would be a great deal for the future and the now but that would mean selling off a few players but Coquelin should not be one of the, he does have a great future at the club and maybe a bit of competition could work in his favour.
Arsenal Dragon
Arsenal Star Katie McCabe Attracting NWSL Interest as Contract Expires This Summer With High Impact Player Rule Making Move Financially Viable
Republic of Ireland captain Katie McCabe is being closely monitored by National Women’s Soccer League clubs ahead of a pivotal summer for Arsenal. Several NWSL sides have shown ongoing interest for the past 18 months, fully aware that McCabe’s Arsenal deal expires at the end of the season.
The situation places McCabe at an important crossroads in her career. Having tasted Champions League triumph last summer, she wants to compete at the top level and that ambition will inevitably shape any decision she makes. Arsenal face losing one of their most recognizable figures unless they act quickly.
Ten Arsenal Stars Out of Contract
McCabe is not the only high profile name at Arsenal approaching the end of her current deal. The club has a staggering number of senior players out of contract this summer including Stina Blackstenius, Kim Little, Leah Williamson, Caitlin Foord, Beth Mead, Laia Codina, Steph Catley, Victoria Pelova and Manuela Zinsberger.
This list is frankly ridiculous for a club of Arsenal’s stature. Several of these players form the core of the team and have played key roles in recent domestic and European success. Decisions made by the club and by the players themselves will shape the direction of the squad moving forward, and Arsenal cannot afford to lose multiple stars simultaneously.
High Impact Player Rule Changes Game
The introduction of the NWSL High Impact Player rule in July is already influencing how clubs view potential signings from Europe. The rule allows NWSL clubs to exceed the league’s salary cap by up to $1 million for high impact players, making moves for European stars like McCabe financially viable.
For now, McCabe remains focused on finishing the season strongly with Arsenal. Whether her future lies in north London or across the Atlantic will be one of the biggest stories to watch as summer approaches.
Also read: What Is The NWSL High Impact Player Rule and Who Could Be The First To Benefit From It?
Arsenal captain Leah Williamson has been announced as a National Year of Reading ambassador following the official launch of the 2026 campaign at Emirates Stadium.
The Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson unveiled the Go All In initiative on January 13, positioning reading as a gateway to enhancing passions across all walks of life.
Williamson joined a stellar lineup of ambassadors including author Julia Donaldson, illustrator Axel Scheffler, poet Jackie Kay, and several other prominent figures from literature and public life. The event marked a significant moment for literacy promotion in the country, with the campaign centred on the message that reading can deepen enjoyment of whatever people already love.
A Message From the Pitch
Speaking at the launch, Williamson drew parallels between football and reading. She said the National Year of Reading represents a chance to fully commit to personal passions through literature in all its forms. The Arsenal skipper encouraged people to seize the opportunity by picking up books, listening to audiobooks, or diving into articles related to their interests. Her involvement underscores how sports figures can champion reading beyond their professional domains.
Resetting Reading Culture
Joanna Prior, chief executive of Pan Macmillan and chair of The National Literacy Trust, described the launch as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform how Britain views books.
The ambition extends beyond traditional reading spaces, aiming to make literature accessible in communities, schools, and even on football pitches. Prior emphasized stripping away pressure and stigma around reading, making it relevant and enjoyable rather than obligatory.
The campaign represents a coordinated national effort to boost literacy rates and foster a genuine love of reading across all demographics and age groups throughout 2026.
Also read: Jodie Taylor Appointed Arsenal Women’s First Ever Technical Director
Arsenal Women host Manchester United on Saturday in a crucial six pointer for Champions League qualification. The Gunners sit just one point above United in the WSL table and victory at Emirates Stadium would give them a strong buffer, while defeat leaves them playing catch up in the race for Europe.
The match marks Arsenal’s return from the winter break following a busy week that saw Renee Slegers sign a new contract and Jodie Taylor promoted to Technical Director. However, the immediate focus is on securing three points against Marc Skinner’s side in what promises to be a tense encounter.
Kick-off: 12:30 GMT, Saturday, January 11, 2026
Venue: Emirates Stadium, London
TV: Sky Sports (UK)
Cooney Cross Absent For Personal Reasons
Arsenal will be without Kyra Cooney Cross who has returned to Australia for personal reasons. Daphne van Domselaar is not quite ready to return from a quad injury while Chloe Kelly remains out with a knee problem. Jenna Nighswonger will not be in the matchday squad as she negotiates a loan move.
New signing Smilla Holmberg from Hammarby will be in the squad alongside recalled goalkeeper Naomi Williams. Manu Zinsberger and Katie Reid are out with ACL injuries. The absence of Cooney Cross means Mariona will likely drop into the deeper midfield role she has occupied for much of the last year.
United Strengthened in January
Manchester United have been busy in the transfer window, adding full back Hanna Lundkvist from San Diego Wave and centre forward Lea Schuller from Bayern Munich. Skinner was dealt a poor hand over the summer with a very small squad handling Champions League qualifiers and the group phase.
Predicted Lineup:
Arsenal (4-3-3): Borbe; Fox, Williamson, Catley, McCabe; Little, Mariona, Maanum; Mead, Russo, Smith
Manchester United (4-2-3-1): Tullis Joyce; Lundkvist, Le Tissier, Janssen, Sandberg; Miyazawa, Zigiotti; Park, Malard, Awujo; Schuller
Also read: Arsenal Women disable social media comments after sexist backlash to new signing
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