By support

3rd Jan, 2017 | 9:41pm

Steve Claridge pans Arsenal trio after Bournemouth game

By Amir Mir

BBC pundit Steve Claridge has questioned whether Arsenal trio Mohamed Elneny, Francis Coquelin and Granit Xhaka are good enough.

Defensive midfield duo Coquelin and Xhaka started for the Gunners as they came from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 at Dean Court on Tuesday night.

Academy graduate Coquelin was substituted after 28 minutes and replaced by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain because of an injury.

At that time Arsene Wenger’s side were two goals down, with Charlie Daniels and a Callum Wilson penalty bringing early joy for the home side after 20 minutes.

Summer signing Xhaka was at fault for the second goal as he appeared to trip Ryan Fraser in the box.

Former Portsmouth striker Claridge had this to say about the trio as the north London club were under the cosh on the south coast.

“Is Mohamed Elneny good enough? Are Francis Coquelin and Granit Xhaka better than what went before them? I’m not sure they are,” Claridge told BBC Sport.

Fraser added a third for the home team after the break, but three goals in the last 20 minutes saw the Londoners complete a magnificent fightback.

Coquelin has played 22 games in all competitions for Wenger’s side this season, including starting six out of the last seven league games.

Meanwhile, Xhaka, who was purchased for £30 million in the summer, has played 24 Premier League, Champions League and EFL Cup games, scoring three goals.

By contrast, Elneny, who did not feature in the matchday squad to face the Cherries, has appeared in 19 games all term, supplying two assists.

In other Arsenal news, club legend Theirry Henry believes Arsene Wenger must start this youngster ahead of Mesut Ozil in certain games.