Arsenal manager Unai Emery thinks Denis Suarez is now ready to start matches for the Gunners in the Premier League.

There has been speculation that the Spaniard has not featured more prominently since his loan move from Barcelona because of a lack of physicality, and that it could stop the player’s permanent switch in the summer.

However, speaking at his pre-match press conference yesterday, Emery hinted that Suarez was closing in on his first start for the club:

“I think yes. I think he is OK for starting in the first 11 or for giving us this impact after. But I think now, our focus is collectively very strongly focused on helping in 90 minutes, or 50 minutes, or one minute. We are going to need every player for the next matches.”

“I think it’s normal [that he has needed time to settle in]. But we have a lot of players ready and with a big mentality and a big performance for playing and helping us. For me, like that, we can be stronger, more competitive for taking big performances. With Denis or with another.”

Suarez had only played eight games all season before his switch to the Gunners, having made just two starts for Barca in the Copa del Rey during the first half of the campaign.

Still, Arsenal fans would have expected the 25-year-old to have started at least one game before now. He has made six substitute appearances during his first two months in England and his absence from the starting eleven has been surprising considering the lengthy negotiations it took to sign him.