The departure of his fellow Switzerland international Philippe Senderos on loan to AC Milan gave Djourou a chance to impress this season, stepping in at centre-back following injuries to William Gallas and Kolo Toure.

The Gunners will be looking to force themselves back into the Barclays Premier League title race next year and Djourou is eager to secure himself a regular place in the first team.

He returned to the Emirates Stadium at the start of the year, fully focused after a loan spell with Birmingham.

"It has been a good year for me. I came back from on loan injured, but I put my head down and kept working hard because I wanted to be at my best, and that is what I am showing at the moment," Djourou told Arsenal TV Online.

"Going out on loan helped me because I came back ready to show that I am good and ready for it. That helped me a lot. Watching and learning from guys like William and Kolo did too.

"I have shown the boss he can count on me and I am going to show him that he can count on me all the way."

He turns 22 in January and appreciates how the best defenders earn respect from opponents.

Djourou added: "You have to be nasty, not in the way of breaking legs, but in being aggressive on the pitch because that is what makes strikers scared.

"If you play against someone who is soft, they [striker] are going to have fun - you have to show you are nasty, that you are going to win games."

Djourou produced a composed display in the win at Chelsea during November, recovering after scoring an own goal to help steer the team to victory.

However, consistency at the back has been a problem for Arsenal, who are now back down to fifth place, behind Aston Villa and 10 points off the pace set by leaders Liverpool.

Manager Arsene Wenger has been working through all his options - which now include former Manchester United defender Mikael Silvestre who partnered Gallas in the 1-0 win over Portsmouth on Sunday.

Djourou knows he has far from made the grade yet.

"I am only 21 and I want to learn more. I am growing up as a person and a player," he said.

"You need to concentrate on what you do, because you have not made it yet. Even if you are here playing for Arsenal, that does not mean that I have made it - I want to be more than that."

Djourou added: "My New Year's resolution would be for us to keep on winning and to try to climb to the top.

"We also must keep going with the Champions League and the FA Cup, because we want to win everything."

Djourou joined the Gunners from Swiss side Etoile Carouge in 2003, and earlier this year he signed a new, long-term deal with the Gunners.

He started off as a midfielder, and would have no problem filling in ahead of the back four should he be asked.

"We have had that discussion with the boss, and he sees me as a centre-back in a 4-4-2," he said.

"If I was playing in front of the defence, maybe it would be a bit different. I would be able to do a good job, but I think I am better off in the back.

"Of course if the boss asks me to play there now I would, but he has different options and I have to respect that."

While Wenger could utilise Djourou in a more advanced role, it is expected Arsenal will strengthen their midfield during the January transfer window to offset the loss of injured captain Cesc Fabregas.

Russian playmaker Andrei Arshavin continues to be linked with a £20million move away from Zenit St Petersburg, while Everton's Spain international Mikel Arteta is another reported target.

Portsmouth defender Sylvain Distin, though, has dismissed speculation linking him with a transfer to Arsenal as "rubbish".

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Arsenal have confirmed loan deals for several of their younger players.

Premier League side West Brom have been loaned striker Jay Simpson, the 20-year-old who scored a brace in the Gunners' Carling Cup victory over Wigan.

Defender Gavin Hoyte, 18, will join Coca-Cola Championship side Watford until the end of the season, and forward Nacer Barazite, also 18, has extended his stay at Derby.