https://i0.wp.com/newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45130000/jpg/_45130447_song_getty.jpg?resize=250%2C175Arsene Wenger is likely to field a centre-back partnership of Alex Song and Mikael Silvestre next weekend.

The Arsenal boss had been doing without the services of William Gallas on Saturday as he was hampered with the sending-off Thomas Vermaelen against West Ham.

One man who has softened the blow for Arsenal in defense is January signing Sol Campbell, and while hope is that the English veteran continues to fill the void at centre-back, Wenger has voiced his concerns over the 35-year-old’s fitness.

Thus, the manager plans to hand Campbell a rest next week.

“I hope it won’t be a problem but we cannot continue to lose centre-backs, that is for sure. You cannot have six centre-backs at a football club because that doesn’t make sense.” Wenger said

“So at the moment we don’t have Gallas and today we have lost Vermaelen. Sol Campbell was outstanding but to repeat the games could become a problem for him so I think I have to give him a big holiday next week to recover. He is very important to us and I think it was a very good signing.”

Should Campbell sit out the visit to Birmingham City next Saturday, Mikael Silvestre will inevitably be involved and Wenger may prefer Alex Song to continue his role as make-shift centreback.

“I think he was absolutely outstanding. It looked so easy to him to play in this position. I know he can play there, but he was outstanding in midfield earlier in the game. I have no fear to continue with him at centre-back.” the manager said.

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