Thomas Vermaelen, Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny, three players for two positions, a nice headache to have for Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

Speaking ahead of today’s game against West Bromwich Albion, the Frenchman agreed that balance is vital in central defence adding that the three centre backs can all play together with the German and the Frenchman doing well during the Belgian’s spell on the sidelines with Vermaelen and Mertesacker joining forces, in mid-week, against Olympique Marseille in the Champions League.

On rotation, the Arsenal boss explained that it is of course an option with the busy Christmas period coming up, saying that Switzerland’s Johan Djourou as well as Sebastien Squillaci are also two defenders who could be thrown in the mix.

Wenger concluded by saying how it’s ironic that he has so many centre backs available at his disposal after a busy summer transfer window in which many were expecting him to sign at least two central defenders to strengthen the defensive department.

On Thursday, the manager said:

The balance is vital [in central defence] but in fairness I must say that all the three can play with each other.

[Laurent] Koscielny and [Thomas] Vermaelen can play together and [Per] Mertesacker can play with Vermaelen and Koscielny.

So that gives us a bit of an opportunity to rotate a bit when needed and people are tired.

I think that all the three can play at any moment, and we still have Djourou and Squillaci as well.

Ideally, Vermaelen will play on the left [of the centre-back pair]. But Koscielny can play on the left as well so we have a good potential and balance there.

People wanted us to buy a centre-back so much and then suddenly you realise we have plenty.