Arsene Wenger is concerned that Henrikh Mkhitaryan may have suffered a
hit to his confidence after a largely-disappointing stint at Manchester
United.
The Armenia international joined the Gunners on Monday
in exchange for Alexis Sanchez, ending a see-saw 18-month spell at Old
Trafford.
Mkhitaryan was a target for Arsenal before he moved to United in the
summer of 2016 but he did not settle into the side and was often left on
the sidelines by Jose Mourinho.
Now he has a chance to
reinvigorate his stalled career in north London and Wenger has backed
the 29-year-old to do so following his challenging time with the Red
Devils.
"Yes, of course you worry about how much it has affected him," he said.
"But
as well but it's a new chance for him, what you want in life is a new
chance and I'm sure with his quality that he will take it. I met him at
the time (he moved to United), at the time we were close but in the end
it didn't work."
enger insists he can incorporate Mkhitaryan, as well as another
potential new recruit in Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick
Aubameyang, into his squad as players will have to accept they cannot
play every week.
"Some people need confidence and to feel security," he said.
"But
in football teams, there is a number (of players in a squad) that
pushes you, a number that makes you asleep, and a number that paralyses
you.
"So
you have to find the right number in each squad to give fair
competition, but as well not be too much in administration, and not to
have no chance at all - no matter what happens - to play.
"Some
will have to be in and out. But on the other hand, we have seen that
(Aaron) Ramsey has been out injured many times, Jack Wilshere as well.
"We play in many competitions and you have a number you can fit in."
"So you have to find the right number in each squad to give fair
competition, but as well not be too much in administration, and not to
have no chance at all - no matter what happens - to play.
"Some
will have to be in and out. But on the other hand, we have seen that
(Aaron) Ramsey has been out injured many times, Jack Wilshere as well.
"We play in many competitions and you have a number you can fit in."
Wenger went on to suggest he could ask Mkhitaryan, who is cup-tied
for Wednesday's Carabao Cup semi-final second-leg against Chelsea, to
play in an unfamiliar role moving forward.
"He can play in different positions," the Frenchman added.
"But personally I first see him first in a wide position, but I'm thinking about him a possibility to play through the middle."
Pushed on whether that meant deploying Mkhitaryan as a number 10, Wenger replied: "Or maybe even deeper..."
Despite scoring in the Europa League final, Mkhitaryan missed out on
United's EFL Cup success last season due to injury and cannot play for
Arsenal this season.
Wenger has won three FA Cups in the past
four years and, although the Frenchman has never won the League Cup in
any of its guises, he believes even success this time around would not
be enough to stop the media questioning his position as Arsenal boss.
"Look, we have been in a few finals," he said.
"Has it changed your (the media's) mood? No.
"You celebrate
some teams who have not been in a final for 25 years and yet you kill us
even though we have won the FA Cup three times in the last four years.
"It's like that, we have to live with that. I have no illusions at all. The mood is decided by you (the press)."
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