Mikel Arteta has suggested to Football London that Granit Xhaka will be tried as a central defender in Arsenal training.
Xhaka finished Arsenal’s game against Dundalk playing in their heart of their defence.
With the Gunners’ injuries stacking up, it seems that Arteta wants more cover in the position.
And he has suggested that the £35 million-man, Xhaka, (BBC Sport) could be given more opportunity to play in central defence in training in the coming weeks.
“We need one or two players who are able to drop into that position in the way that position looks at the moment,” Arteta said, when asked about Xhaka playing in defence.
“We need to try them and the best way to try them is obviously in training, but sometimes you have to do it in games so they have a taste, the feeling and the confidence to do it as well.
“It was good that they got through that, got the clean sheet and obviously that will bring them some confidence as well.”
Xhaka actually finished last night’s game alongside Mohamed Elneny in the heart of Arsenal’s defence.
While that is unlikely to be a long-term solution for the Gunners, the Swiss may have to get used to it over the next month or so.
Arsenal are currently without Rob Holding, David Luiz, Calum Chambers and Pablo Mari, which leaves their options extremely limited in defence.
The Gunners are next in action against Manchester United at the weekend, but it seems far more likely that Gabriel and Shkodran Mustafi will start at the back there, with Xhaka still set to feature in his more familiar midfield position.
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