MIKEL Arteta has called for “tranquilo!” amid the ongoing debate as to whether or not Arsenal’s new-look midfield is up to the challenge of winning the Premier League title.

The Gunners boss insisted that it will take time for summer signings Declan Rice and Kai Havertz to strike “the right balance” as he rejected any suggestions that the north Londoners now lack physicality in the middle of the park.

Arteta used the example of Granit Xhaka, who was sold to Bayer Leverkusen earlier this month, as the perfect example of how, given enough patience, a player can grow into a new role.

Xhaka was an often reckless and costly defensive midfielder when Arteta arrived at the Emirates, but under the Spaniard’s guidance he was transformed into a reliable, attack-minded asset who flourished drifting out to the left wing.

It was clear that time was indeed going to be needed as Arsenal suffered a 2-0 defeat against rivals Manchester United over the weekend during their pre-season tour of the United States.

Arteta, however, called for calm ahead of his side’s clash against Barcelona in LA in the early hours of this morning (Thursday).

“We’re going to have to find the right balance, but a year ago Granit could never play that as an attacking midfielder,” he said. “So let’s try to get the work done. [Against United] it was the first time we played with four players inside, and three of them had never played for us. So three out of four, they never played together ever. So, tranquilo!

“Day by day, we keep doing the right things, give people opportunity to settle them into the right things and we will be fine.”

Tackling any fears that Arsenal’s midfield is somehow more vulnerable with Havertz replacing Xhaka in the starting line-up, Arteta added: “You use a word that is ‘physical’. So if I put Granit and Kai and I ask you, who is more physical? What would you say? Kai is one metre 91, so it depends what you mean physical.

“Physical is [also] to run, running behind the forward, to tackle. It depends. So we will fit in with the qualities that we have, that’s for sure. And the good thing is that we have options as well. When we have a game that is more physical, we can become very physical as well. We have the right options.”

Meanwhile, Arteta shut down any speculation surrounding Kieran Tierney’s future at the club. Newcastle United and Celtic have both been linked with the left-back, but Arteta said: “He is in our plans. Every time he’s played in pre-season, he’s been really good. We want to create competition in the team, raise the level of each individual, and that’s going to be a huge benefit for the team to get to another level.”