Thierry Henry believes the form of Francis Coquelin will save Arsenal from spending unnecessarily tonight.
The 23-year old French midfielder has been in fine form for the Gunners since his return from a loan spell at Charlton Athletic, starting in six matches for the north Londoners.
During that time, Arsenal have lost just once and conceded only three goals which suggests to club great Henry that manager Arsene Wenger will not have to pursue a holding midfielder on the final day of the winter transfer window.
"For me the best thing they've done is bring Coquelin back from Charlton," the Frenchman told Sky Sports News HQ.
"Maybe if he hadn't come back and played the way he did recently, Arsene would have gone and bought a defensive midfielder.
"He has been amazing, Arsenal don't look like they will concede, they can score and he gave everyone protection everybody was talking about.
"Sometimes you look for that player and they are right in front of you. But the guy has matured, he went on loan, and knows he had to perform and he is doing it."
Henry added: "What Coquelin does is allow you to go for the player you want in the summer, because in January you go for the player that is available.
"Coquelin allowed Arsene to go for someone he really wants, or if Coquelin does the job really well, he can stay."
