LONDON -- Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says new signing Granit Xhaka is still adapting to the pace of English football but insists the Switzerland midfielder will still have "a huge impact" this season.
Xhaka was surprisingly dropped to the bench for Arsenal's last two games -- the Premier League win over Southampton and Champions League draw at Paris Saint-Germain -- despite impressive performances in his previous two starts.
The Switzerland international was bought for £35 million from Borussia Monchengladbach this summer, and is expected to add some steel to the Gunners' midfield with his physical presence and tackling ability.
Wenger said Xhaka remains a big part of his plans, but hinted that he may continue with a central partnership of Santi Cazorla and Francis Coquelin for Saturday's trip to Hull.
"It's not about his quality. At the moment he adapts to the pace of the English game," Wenger said about Xhaka. "And for me it's about pairs as well who work well together.
"Coquelin and Cazorla have worked well together. But he [Xhaka] will play games and every week he is stronger and better, and I think he will have a huge impact as a player."
Arsenal also have Aaron Ramsey (currently injured) and Mohamed Elneny fighting for playing time in central midfield, but many see Xhaka's blend of defensive qualities and passing ability as a perfect mix for Wenger's team.
"He has a stature, he has the power, he has the strength. What we want is for him to use that in a very efficient way," Wenger said.
"It's September, we started in August, so it's one month. For many players it took them some time to get into the team. He will do that without any problem. I personally prefer him as a box-to-box player. Because he has the engine, he has the power, he has the long pass. He likes to come deep and distribute the game. But I think he has the engine to have an impact with his runs."
Wenger did not rule out Xhaka playing alongside Cazorla in a more defensive-minded role, but added that Coquelin's experience has tipped the scale in his favour after Arsenal made a stuttering start to the campaign.
"Cazorla and Coquelin have 50 or 60 games together. And that has a little impact sometimes in my decisions," the Frenchman said. "Sometimes [when] we lose our first game, you go a bit for stability. But he [Xhaka] is highly focused, Elneny as well. And they are top, top quality."