Arsenal legend Nigel Winterburn has suggested that Granit Xhaka could be an option at centre-back for the remainder of the season.
Once again this season the Gunners have struggled at the back, they have a goal difference of -2 after 24 Premier League games played and only one side has conceded more goals than them in the top half of the table.
With the January transfer window open for another week, head coach Mikel Arteta is hoping to bolster his defensive options with at least one new signing.
Mykola Matviyenko and Dayot Upamecano are just two of several names being linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium this month in order to solve the Gunners' centre-back problem.
But is there an internal solution?
That's the view of Winterburn who was impressed with Xhaka as a makeshift centre-back in the 2-2 draw against Chelsea, whilst also highlighting the return of Sokratis Papastathopoulos.
"I think it's obvious that Arsenal do have a lot of problems particularly at centre-half," Winterburn said in an interview with Gambling.com. "At the moment, everyone is trying to second-guess what Arsenal are going to do.
"Will they buy a centre-half? Will they go for a full-back? Or a holding midfield player?
"I've got to say, I thought Xhaka was outstanding when he went back to centre-half at Stamford Bridge, maybe there's the option to play him there again and see how things go.
"But hopefully Sokratis will be back soon, Rob Holding too.
"There is a supply of centre-halves but getting them all fit and keeping them fit is the problem, because it stops you from settling on the best pairing."
Following David Luiz's red card against Chelsea on Tuesday night, Xhaka slotted in at centre-back alongside Shkodran Mustafi and was largely impressive.
Although, he said afterwards that central defence is not his favoured role.
"I hope centre-back is not my new position, but the gaffer knows I can play there," Xhaka told BT Sport. "I tried to help the team, and the guys around me made it easy for me today."
