Emery has plan for a backstop

UNAI EMERY has a masterplan to cope with Arsenal’s defensive crisis.

Rob Holding is sidelined for the rest of the season while Sokratis and Shkodran Mustafi are suspended. That leaves Laurent Koscielny as the only fit centre-back, and he only returned after seven months out for Thursday’s 1-0 Europa League win against Qarabag at the Emirates.

Arsenal will wait to see how Koscielny responds before deciding whether he can start Sunday’s game at Southampton.

The club’s other senior options include using full-backs Nacho Monreal and Stephan Lichtsteiner in the middle.

Emery said: “We can use others as centre-backs. I have one idea in my mind. Every player is now OK to help us in the position we need.”

Further forward, Emery expects to be able to call on Mesut Ozil, who made his comeback after a back problem against Qarabag, and Aaron Ramsey, who has missed two games.

“Mesut was good,” said the coach. “After his injury he came back with good work. With Ramsey, we think yes. The doctor said he thinks he can train and be OK for Sunday.”