'I almost regret not having come before'

Coquelin signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with La Liga high-flyers Valencia and upon being presented at Mestalla he revealed that the Spanish side were interested in him last summer.

"It's true that there was interest in the summer but in my head I wanted to continue at Arsenal and do well there. It wasn't to be and now this opportunity has come up," the former Arsenal man said.

While expressing his excitement about a new challenge, he also admitted it is one he should have taken up six months ago: "I almost regret not having come before," he said. "I think it's an excellent opportunity for me and I'm very grateful."

"It's a big challenge, and a new start in my life for me, which I'm very excited about."