Mikel Arteta defends Granit Xhaka left-back decision in Brighton loss

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has defended his decision to initially deploy Granit Xhaka as a left-back in Saturday's Premier League loss to Brighton & Hove Albion.

The Swiss midfielder was selected ahead of out-and-out left-back Nuno Tavares to cover for the injured Kieran Tierney but was caught out of position for Leandro Trossard's opener.

Xhaka reverted to his normal position in the second 45, but the Gunners ultimately went down 2-1 to the Seagulls, with Enock Mwepu doubling the Seagulls' advantage before Martin Odegaard's late consolation.

Arteta has now insisted that the decision to start Xhaka at left-back made sense to him before kickoff, while also explaining that it was a good 'fit' for Emile Smith Rowe to play more central.

"Especially the way I thought they were going to play and the space they were going to attack, it fit well to play Emile in that position. Especially because we thought that space was going to be there for Granit to use which it was, but we didn't use it," Arteta told his post-match press conference.

Arsenal's second successive defeat in the Premier League sees them remain fifth in the rankings, with Tottenham Hotspur now in the driving seat for fourth place.