Declan Rice is Arsenal’s ’emergency centre back’, Mikel Arteta reveals after the midfielder plays in defence during PSV draw… with Gunners looking to avoid repeat of injury issues from last season’s title race

• Rice played half an hour in defence for Arsenal against PSV coming off the bench
• William Saliba and Gabriel started the game as injury issues start to mount again
• CHRIS SUTTON: I was RIGHT to call Man United players ‘snakes’ last week – IAKO

Mikel Arteta has revealed that he is willing to use Declan Rice in defence as an ’emergency’.

Rice has been one of the signings of the season in the Premier League after joining the Gunners for £105million from West Ham.

The England international has been an ever-present in midfield for his new side, helping them in another Premier League title chase and to the top of their group in the Champions League.

Arsenal have had a relatively drama-free campaign so far, but are prepared should they hit any stumbling blocks as they look to win their first Premier League title since 2004.

After his side drew 1-1 with PSV in their final Champions League group game, Arteta praised Rice and revealed his plans for the 24-year-old going forward following an experiment on Tuesday.

Declan Rice (pictured) is Arsenal’s ’emergency’ centre back, Mikel Arteta has confirmed

Rice played half an hour in defence for Arsenal during their Champions League game against PSV on Tuesday

Arteta (pictured) said Rice is ‘a good option’ to cover at the back if needed for the Gunners

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‘We are very short at the back and I really wanted to try if something happens, how we’re going to resolve that situation,’ he said. ‘I thought he was really good.

‘He has played there before. We have to try as if we have an emergency we have to understand and to be sure that we can fill that gap in the right way.

‘He has a lot of composure on the ball, he wins a lot of duels for a player of his size and he has done it in the past. He is a good option.’

Rice played half an hour at centre back for Arsenal against PSV, coming on as a substitute for William Saliba with the group already won before the game.

Gabriel (left) and William Saliba (right) have been Arsenal’s first-choice defendive pair but injuries are starting to pile up

Jurrien Timber is one of the defenders who are currently out injured for Arsenal, with similar happening last year

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Arsenal have had to deal with injuries to the likes of Jurrien Timber and Takehiro Tomiyasu, meaning Saliba and Gabriel started the game in the Netherlands despite it meaning nothing.

Ben White and Jakub Kiwior can also play in the middle of defence, but it seems Arteta prefers them in wide defensive positions, with Kiwior starting at left back and White coming on and playing right back in the game.

Arsenal’s title hopes were dealt a blow last year when Saliba suffered an injury and Rob Holding was forced to deputise before being dropped for Kiwior.

Arteta will hope his side are better prepared for any issues this term, however, with Rice able to cover on the right side on the defence if needed. 

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