Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has claimed that Francis Coquelin is one of the most important players at Arsenal.

Coquelin has been key to Arsenal's fine form in the second half of the season, and Oxlade-Chamberlain admits that his French teammate improves the confidence of other players on the pitch.

"At the moment he's the first person I'd put on my teamsheet," the England international told reporters. "When I'm playing alongside Francis, there's nobody better to play with.

"He brings that security and confidence that you have someone like that who can pick the ball up, intercept balls that should never be intercepted, win tackles that you don't think he can win, and he's also a quality player on the ball as well.

"You can never take away his technical ability and that goes unnoticed at times because he just does his job, but he's probably one of the best technicians in our side as well."

Coquelin was an unused substitute as Arsenal played out a goalless draw with Sunderland on Monday night.