'I want to be the new Patrick Vieira': Ambitious Francis Coquelin determined to be an Arsenal great'

Francis Coquelin wants to be an Arsenal great

Francis Coquelin has ambitions to emulate the successes enjoyed by Patrick Vieira in the Arsenal midfield.

The 23-year-old has been racking up the plaudits after making the most of a surprise recall to the Gunners first-team earlier in the season.

On loan at Championship side Charlton Athletic, the Frenchman was ordered back to the Emirates due to a mounting number of injuries, with the situation something of a blessing in disguise for the defensive midfielder.

And having grabbed the opportunity with both hands, the player is now being talked about in the same breath as Gunners legend Vieira - and Coquelin is determined to prove himself at the club and enjoy a career similar to that of his fellow countryman.

'I'm not going to say to you I am (the new Vieira), obviously I want to be but I think it's down to the performance,' Coquelin told BT Sport.

'I always had confidence in myself and belief in myself - I just needed the chance. I got the chance because other people got injured and tried to grab it with both hands and do as well as I could.

'The way I think is that I'm just trying to do what's best for the team.'