When Francis Coquelin signed on the dotted line at Arsenal this summer, not many people knew who he was.  Not many cared.  Not many, except me.

Two unbelievable performances against the might of Barnet and Szomething of Hungary later and Arsenal fans everywhere are wet with excitement.  Not since Pele has a player made such an explosive entrance onto world football.  Against Barnet, the diminutive midfielder was simply incredible.  Astonishing tenacity, sublime touch, metronomic passing, dazzling step-overs and thunderbolt shooting, it was immediately clear that young Coquelin had it all.  I watched in awe as the reincarnation of Puskas, Beckenbauer, Pele, Zidane and Redondo combined tore through the impenetrable Barnet midfield. 

Perhaps it was a one off?  Not a chance.  Not with a boy this superlatively gifted. 

Against Szomething in Hungary, he was even better.  Coquelin executed Cruyff turns so perfectly, so definitively, that the move should be renamed the Coquelin turn.  His slaloming runs through the heart of midfield were reminiscent of the great Zidane performance against Brazil in the World Cup of 2006. His ability to arrive in the box and finish at the right time was on a par with another of his countrymen, the great Platini.  His timing in the tackle was exquisite, executed with such a level of precision that has not been seen since Bobby Moore.

Szomething never had a chance.

These 90 minutes have opened the eyes of Arsenal fans everywhere.  They are looking at a future World Player of the Year.  By my reckoning, he will achieve that in the next two years.  He will win it at least five times by the age of 25. 

What an incredible talent.  Wenger has done it again.