Arsenal boss eyes defensive solidarity

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger insists that defensive solidarity will be the only way his team can be successful this year. In recent months, Gunners fans have been demanding the club purchase a defender, but now it seems Arsenal have plenty of options to choose from.

The return of Thomas Vermaelen from injury gives the Arsenal boss a wealth of options to choose from as his defensive partnership. Per Mertesacker, Johan Djourou, Sebastien Squillaci and Laurent Koscielny can all be partnered with the Belgian first choice defender.


"The balance is vital", Wenger told Arsenal’s official site.

"In fairness though, I must say that all the three can play with each other. Koscielny and Vermaelen can play together and Mertesacker can play with Vermaelen and Koscielny.

"It gives us a bit of an opportunity to rotate a bit when needed and people are tired.

"Ideally, Vermaelen will play on the left [of the centre-back pair]. But Koscielny can play on the left as well so we have good potential and balance there. I think that all the three can play at any moment, and we still have Djourou and Squillaci as well."