Unai Emery has revealed midfielder Denis Suarez is still not ready to play 90 minutes following his January deadline day move to Arsenal.
Suarez, 25, moved to the Emirates on a loan deal until the end of the season.
However, he has played just 66 minutes of football since penning terms with the Gunners on a deal that also includes an option for the north Londoners to buy him outright this summer.
He has not just been afforded a first start for his new club, though Suarez’s full debut could come on Wednesday night when Bournemouth visit to the Emirates.
But, even if he does start against the Cherries, Emery doubts he will be able to see out the entire match.
“I am very demanding of myself to find the best performance with the players,” the Spanish coach said.
“I think Denis Suarez is improving first with the adaptation every day and then his quality can give us a lot.
“I think it’s not OK today to play 90 minutes because he needs rhythm, but one possibility is to start tomorrow knowing that. Or, stay on the bench and after he can help us.”
Emery would not be drawn on whether he wants to activate the option to bring Suarez in permanently in the summer, insisting plenty can change for the player before a decision has to be made.
“For me, it’s so far away,” he said when asked about Suarez joining on a permanent basis.
“The football, each match, each week, can change a lot. We are in every match, we are doing a test on everybody.
“My test like a coach is tomorrow and the players are the same. Our demands are very big demands.
“To work hard, to be with focus for each match to show us and show you, the players, the coaches, that we can improve and we can be better every day. For me, the summer is so far away.
“He is working every day, improving and knowing us. My philosophy is that adaptation needs time and after, little by little he will grow confidence and know his team-mates in training and after playing matches.
“For him, all the minutes he can get to help us are very important.
“On Sunday, for example, my idea was to give him some minutes, but after recent injuries, I cannot give him these minutes. But tomorrow is another opportunity.”