Koscielny a happy chappy at full-back

Laurent Koscielny has no problem helping ease Arsenal’s injury crisis by playing at full-back, claiminghis friends have grown so accustomed to seeing him in the position that they have started calling him the “white Cafu”.

Arsenal head to Aston Villa without any recognised full-backs after a spate of injuries denied Arsene Wenger the services of Kieran Gibbs, Andre Santos, Bacary Sagna and Carl Jenkinson. Johan Djourou played at right-back in Sunday’s 1-0 defeat at Manchester City, but he to come off in the second half after suffering a groin injury and will now be out for three weeks.

Wenger heads to Villa Park with Per Mertesacker, Thomas Vermaelen, Koscielny, Sebastien Squillaci and Ignasi Miquel as his only fit defenders – all of whom are primarily centre-backs.

Koscielny has filled in at right-back with varying degrees of success this season, but he insists he is happy playing there and has joked that his friends have become so used to seeing him in the position that they have started making comparisons between him and legendary Brazil right-back Cafu.

“My mates tease me calling me the white Cafu,” Koscielny told the Official Arsenal Magazine. “It’s a position I knew as I started as a professional in France at left full-back.

“At the time, I was playing with Guingamp in the second division and I was very young. Obviously, it is not my favourite position but I am happy to help the team and do my best there.”