Nemanja Matić is widely considered the best defensive midfielder in the Premier League and there has been no reason to doubt those suggestions until the recent emergence of a new star at Arsenal.Since his return from his loan at Charlton due to injuries, Frances Coquelin has cemented his place in Arsenal’s first team with some fine performances.

Arsene Wenger had even admitted that he had planned to release Coquelin at the end of the season. How the last three months have changed things.So just how good has the 23-year-old midfielder been this season? Opta-powered fantasy football game www.oulala.com decided to put him up against the Premier League’s best, Nemanja Matić, and the results answered that question perfectly.

With fewer appearances and minutes from Coquelin the analysis in seven key areas was made via a per 90 minute basis.

Coquelin has won won 48.6% of his tackles this season to 41.6% from Matić. He is also ahead for both ground duels and aerial duels with 59.1% of his battles on the floor won to the Chelsea man’s 49.6% and an impressive 68.9% of his contests in the air successful to Matić’s 62.5% .

The Frenchman is also leading the Serb for interceptions (4.1 to 2.2), blocks (0.6 to 0.2) and clearances (5.2 to 3.2) per 90 minutes. He has also made fewer defensive errors this season.A new star has been born at the Emirates, not for the first time – however on this occasion in a position they’ve been crying out for. The future is very bright at Arsenal.

Straight copy paste from : http://www.justarsenal.com/arsenal-stats-show-coquelin-is-better-than-chelseas-matic/39372

13 appearances VS 25 appearances.
925 min VS 2229.
It is absolutely ridiculous to compare them and to make stats out of this.
They are both great players, but this comparison is totally ridiculous.

Lol nice opinon *** edited by mod... dont offense others

@kei :))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) Don't me mad though. This is just pure fact, that Coquelin is better than Matic (STATS WISE), I doubt you even read anything else than topic.

We can always discuss which one's really better, all I say is that these 2 guys (on current form) are the 2 best CDMs in BPL.

These are stats, but Matic has played much more football than Coquelin. More than 1,000 minutes. His perfomances are incredible if we look how many minutes he was on pitch. We should wait until Coquelin gets around 2,200 minutes and then compare. They're both great players. Coquelin suprised me, he was very good, and Matic was known and is super-class midfielder. These two are best in EPL.

@crotiafan123

i couldnt agree more

im gonna ignore those 2 idiots at the top comment. A bit bias because they didnt have the same minutes played time though. but so far Coquelin did well to cover for our back 4 from the mid.

Why not, i would say Coquelin did better than Matic lately stats wise, but not a better player there is a difference...
Coquelin judged in a small period, okay did better than Matic in this period, But he should show more consistency in future and then build a name...

Coquellin isnt a big player yet, yet you have a player who score 5 goals in a game, doing better than the best Footballers of the moment, doesnt mean he is better.

Or at least add ( at the moment ) which is very important and avoid missundersandings, stats are facts there is no problem saying Coquelin did better than Matic lately, but a better player is a more consistent player, an achiever, a long time recognized player, Coquellin isnt any of this YET, Matic has been doing good for a long time now so step by step and dont put too much pressure on a young talent who has 0 National team call yet...

Stats are one thing, but don't forget Matic played twice more in minutes.. However I'm really glad Coquelin took his chance now. @tiki is right.

LOL... i'd pick matic over this guy anyday :) and be honest arsenal fans who would you rather have in your team lol...

@Jimbet Lolz, I noticed now that @tiki wroted what I wanted to wrote. Nevermind. +1 @tiki.

errrrrr I wont read that ridiculous comparing .... Matić is on of top 5 midfielders in the world. And this thread is typical over-hyping AFC players by their fans .

He posted stats and it's over-hyping?

Well, he's been great no doubt. But comparing him with Matic already? Doubtful.

Why? Even though he's been great those particular stats are better for Coquelin while others are not..

I don't know if he usually plays deeper than Matic??

Anyways.. More important stats (per 90 metric)

Pass completion: Matic 87% Coquelin 83%

Key Passes!!: Matic 0,73 Coquelin 0,19

Chances created: matic 0,81 Coquelin 0,19

Matic has also managed some assists in difference to Coquelin..

That should pretty much settle it for now, but let's have this discussion again in the end of the season!

@tiki respect for actually discussing, too many comments again just based on the topic. You don't really make progress in discussions by telling "LOLOLOLOL" and that's it.

KTB the first post to give any kind of argument other than Tiki earlier(repeated by croatia). When someone brings stats you can't go like:

LElelelellelele bullshit we is best huehuehuehueh

I can go on. Matic has actually scored a few goals while Coquelin hasn't.. Furthermore Coquelin has only managed 3 shots in 9 games which really isn't much even for a defensive midfielder.

I'd say it's too early comparing the two. How many games in Cl has he? a half? Now those stats would be interesting to compare.. Matic has been great in the international cups!

Never the less, Coquelin might be real good in the future!

^It's not actually Coquelin's job to score goals, that's actually against what he should do (pushing forward too much leaving gap in front of CBs). But anyways I think 'zakzook' meant just that you were one of the few who actually discussed instead of putting some "Lololol" bullshite.