My first day in Arsenal was war, Francis Coquelin reveals.

Francis Coquelin has revealed that his first training session with Arsenal was war, that he had reservations about accepting the club's offer when it came through. Coquelin was 16 when he traveled London Colney for a week-long trial and, despite a thigh injury, he impressed enough to earn a move, though when he left, he wasn't sure Arsenal was the place for him. 

"When I left Arsenal I wasn’t sure whether I would come back. I remember my first training session with the first team and it was war. I said to the boss at the door when I left, ‘This is different!’ I remember seeing two players fighting in training, and I had an argument with Jens Lehmann as well and I was thinking, ‘Wow, where am I?’ Two weeks later we had the European Under-17 Championship and I was more worried about whether I would be alright to play in that [than whether I would get a deal], Coquelin told Arsenal Magazine

Coquelin realised the opportunity was too big to turn down, but says his early months at the club were a steep learning curve.