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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has revealed he could have let Francis Coquelin leave on a free transfer.
The midfielder spent time on loan with Charlton Athletic earlier this season but has since become a key player for Wenger since his return in early December.
The 23-year-old had only six months remaining on his current deal at the turn of the year but negotiations over a new deal saw him sign a new contract in February.
However, Wenger admits that he was ready to allow the midfielder to leave on a free transfer.
“It is a surprise to everybody,” the manager told the club’s official website. “The only thing I do is that I never say never to anybody. In my job you have to be open-minded like that. You have to make decisions at times. But never close the door completely for anybody.
“He was not [in my plans at the start of the season]. I told him to give absolutely everything until Christmas, then we would see together where he was. If you respect that you have done a big part of your job.
“In myself, [I thought] if he doesn’t play at Christmas at all, and there’s only six months of his contract to go, I [would] let him go somewhere else.
“He wasn’t happy when I called him back [from Charlton]. He played there and he thought I just called him back as cover. He expected in fact to play against QPR and was not playing and was surprised when I played him against West Ham.
“He knows it’s an opportunity for him now. Sometimes when you wait for such a long time to get your chance and you get it… the human being is a strange animal – the more you have suffered before, the more you enjoy it.
“On that front I think he has gone through a lot of doubt, questioning himself, certainly at many times being discouraged that he didn’t get a chance. Now that he has a chance he doesn’t want to let it slip away. But he is a winner and he wants to win – that’s why he is so committed.”
