Arsenal boss looking for defender to make the most of his "big chance" (From This Is Local London)

Arsenal boss looking for defender to make the most of his "big chance"

2:56pm Wednesday 13th August 2008 in Latest Sport

JOHAN Djourou spent much of last season on the treatment table and has already been forgotten by many people but not Arsene Wenger.

The Arsenal manager is in the midst of an injury crisis with central defenders Kolo Toure and Philippe Senderos both sidelined but he has no qualms about giving Djourou another chance in the first team.

"It is a big chance for him," the Frenchman told the club's offcial website.

"Don't forget he is still only 21 and for a central defender that is very young. And he has already had many appearances in Europe."

In the 2006-2007 season the young Swiss centre-back played over 30 games for the Gunners and was staking a decent claim for a regular starting berth. However injuries limited him to just one first team appearance for Arsenal during their last campaign.

"He had an unsuccessful season last year because he was injured at Birmingham (where he was on loan). It took him a while to get back, nearly until the end of the season," added Wenger.

Arsenal's long list of absentees also includes Cesc Fabregas, Abou Diaby, Samir Nasri, Eduardo, Tomas Rosicky, Amaury Bischoff and Alex Song. Despite this predicament, Arsene Wenger is confident that more of his youngsters can step up and fill the voids left by the missing big-name stars.

"I don’t panic because we have worked very hard to build up these young players. For example Djourou will play. He has been with us for three or four years. If he cannot play one game when we need him then we are wasting our time," said the Gunners boss.