You are essentially agreeing with me that he wasn't rash or aggressive. Let me explain the conversation and my point a bit more.
Just a bit unlucky for all, that his aggression stood out for this game.
The criticisms I've seen so far, and echoed by the poster above, have mostly dealt with how he was rash and aggressive in the game, which almost cost him/us a red card. But he wasn't really at all like that at all as, once the noise of the crowd/complaining from the players and manager/TV editing and commentary are removed, the video illustrates.
In fact he was never in any danger of actually deserving a red card and the threat was entirely manufactured by the Pardew, the CP players and the fans.
This is a very weak counter-attack (numbers in defence, relatively deep, threats covered) that is immediately snuffed out by Coquelin without him making any contact whatsoever. He then moves in to win the ball and there's a tangle but he is judged to have been too physical.
Correct decision but nothing more and it's not even a foul you'd make note of.
This counter-attack is moderately dangerous as it's potentially a man-for-man attack, however our defenders are relatively deep and are well positioned against the threats.
Coquelin makes a stretched slide tackle that is narrowly late, misses the ball and catches the ball carrier. Correctly called and a fair yellow given (though I again stress the point that these fouls happen regularly to us without a yellow card).
Another weak counter-attack here with Bellerin and Monreal well positioned and CP without any real threatening runs. The ball carrier receives a small touch/tug/push from Coquelin and dives to the floor (recognising that it wasn't a strong attacking situation).
Much ado about nothing frankly.
Wasn't a counter-attack and not really worth talking about as, like F1, it happens constantly and nobody bats an eye-lid (except when there is an attempt to get someone sent off).