Wenger said Xhaka remains a big part of his plans, but hinted that he may continue with a central partnership of Santi Cazorla and Francis Coquelin for Saturday’s trip to Hull.
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But Wenger insists Xhaka has simply been adapting to English football as he faces stiff competition for a first-team place, but thinks he will thrive as a box-to-box player and soon establish himself as a key starter at the Emirates Stadium. It took him some time to get back but since last week he has been getting back to full fitness.
Arsenal selected with a 1-1- draw against French champions PSG in Petr Cech’s absence. As well I think he has the engine to have an impact with his runs.
“It’s not about his quality at the moment – he adapts to the pace of the English game – and for me it’s about pairs as well, who work together”.
Swiss global Xhaka is not the only player competing with Coquelin and Cazorla for game-time in central areas.
Wenger added that Xhaka and Mohamed Elneny, who arrived from Basel in January, are “top, top quality” but “there’s big competition in midfield at the moment”. “And I think he had an outstanding game”, Wenger said.
“We have always had good midfield players, you can not say we were missing anything”.
“There is no added problem but we are cautious with him”. “Sometimes [when] we lose our first game, you go a bit for stability”.
Wenger faces Mike Phelan in the opposite dug-out and the Arsenal boss has backed the ex-Manchester United coach and player to get the Hull job on a permanent basis after standing in since Steve Bruce quit. “What is important is the experience of the big games and the knowledge you get from the big games”. The Wales worldwide was pictured in training last week but Wenger is wary of rushing the midfielder back too soon, ruling out a return on Saturday and on Tuesday for the League Cup third round tie against Nottingham Forest.
Giroud, 29, has not started a game for the Gunners this season following his extended summer break after France’s Euro 2016 campaign. At the start it took him some time to get back.
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Wenger told a press conference on Friday the France worldwide is yet to be assessed after picking up the knock in Tuesday’s game in Paris.
