Mikel Arteta pleads for calm on Arsenal midfield debate | Kieran Tierney in plans
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has pleaded for calm as he looks to strike the right balance with the Gunners' new-look midfield.
Summer signings Declan Rice and Kai Havertz played alongside captain Martin Odegaard in Arsenal's 2-0 defeat by Manchester United on Saturday night, and the loss sparked plenty of debate around the Gunners' midfield.
Despite the result, Arteta was encouraged by the performance but, after the game, said defeat to their Premier League rivals proved Arsenal, who sold Granit Xhaka to Bayer Leverkusen earlier this summer, have a lot to improve before the season gets underway.
Speaking ahead of his side's clash against Barcelona in LA on Thursday morning, Arteta once again called for patience, saying it will take time for his side to strike the right balance in midfield.
He said: "We have to find the right balance but a year ago Granit (Xhaka) could never play as an attacking midfielder.
"Let's try to do the work.
"It's the first time (against Man Utd) we played with four players inside and three of them had never played together, ever.
"Day by day, keep doing the right things and give people the opportunity to settle in and we will be fine."
The defeat to Manchester United was a physical encounter with the Gunners coming off second best in a number of challenges during the game.
Many have since questioned whether Arsenal had enough physicality in midfield, especially after the departure of Xhaka, but Arteta insists he is happy with the options he has at his disposal.
He said: "You use the word 'physical' but if I put Granit and Kai (together) who is more physical?"
When a reporter replied Xhaka, Arteta added: "Yeah? He's (Havertz) 1.91. It depends what physical is.
"Physical is to run, to run in behind, run forward,
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