Arsene Wenger says players who “work in the dark” are often those who can give the greatest balance to a team.
Arsenal have hit top form in recent weeks, winning five matches in succession ahead of Saturday’s north London derby at Tottenham.
One of the stand-out performers has been Francis Coquelin - who has signed a new contract with the club - and Wenger feels he has played a crucial role of late.
"Most of the time it is a player who works in the dark and who has a real team attitude and gives balance to the team"
Arsene Wenger
“That balance is what you try to get right before the game,” he said. “You imagine your team and you think always, ‘Is that right, does that [provide] cohesion?’ The only thing I can say is that you know when you are a manger that the balance of the team can depend on one player.
“Getting that one player right gives you efficiency. It is not always a player who makes headlines, someone glamorous. Most of the time it is a player who works in the dark and who has a real team attitude and gives balance to the team.
“It can be a Coquelin type, or Cazorla, but sometimes the balance is to have one more guy who keeps the ball up front. It depends what type of problems you have.”
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