Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta has said that he is optimistic over whether new defender Pablo Mari will be up to speed in time to face Newcastle after the club's winter break, though did state that both Mari and fellow January addition Cedric Soares will continue to be “managed wisely”.
The Gunners' porous backline has been the topic of much discussion in recent times, with questions being asked of the quality possessed by the likes of Shkodran Mustafi, while injuries to first-team players have also played a part.
Arteta and Co. moved to remedy some of those issues in the January transfer window, however, with Mari and Cedric being brought in to bolster the club's options, and the boss was quizzed on whether the new additions would be primed and ready for their next fixture.