Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says Andrey Arshavin's current central role is not in his long-term plans.

The Russia international has been playing as striker in the absence of injured teammates Robin van Persie and Nicklas Bendtner.

"Andrey's movement around the box is intelligent and, at the end of the day, how our strikers do that makes a difference for teams like us," Wenger told arsenal.com.

"In every game we have the ball 60 per cent of the time and when we do have it we play against 10 players in their own half. So what makes the difference is intelligence and movement around the box in the final third and [Andrey] is very good in the short space.

"He started very well up front but in the last few games he had a few more difficulties. He had a foot injury and could kick the ball properly. He is now coming back.

"But I do not deny as well that our plan in the future is to put him back where he was - playing on the left."