Featured Image Credit: Alamy/Twitter @TheJesusZone
Topics: Granit Xhaka, Arsenal, Mikel Arteta, Manchester City, Premier League, Football
Joe Adams
Topics: Granit Xhaka, Arsenal, Mikel Arteta, Manchester City, Premier League, Football
Granit Xhaka was spotted arriving at Arsenal's hotel ahead of their clash against Manchester City.
The Gunners face off against Pep Guardiola's side on Wednesday evening in what is likely to be a title-defining contest.
Mikel Arteta's side haven't tasted victory at the Etihad since 2015, when Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud scored in a 2-0 win.
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However, the Arsenal boss will know that anything other than three points will leave the door open for City to overtake them in the table.
Arteta was dealt a recent blow following concerns over Xhaka's fitness. However, the Swiss midfielder was spotted arriving at their hotel in Manchester, suggesting he could play a part in Wednesday's match.
Xhaka was absent for Friday's 3-3 draw against Southampton through illness, with Arteta revealing he would be assessed ahead of the Manchester City match.
The 30-year-old's presence was sorely missed at the Emirates, with Fabio Vieira replacing him in midfield.
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But in a major boost for supporters, Xhaka was also filmed on Arsenal's pre-match walk in the lead up to Wednesday's huge match-up. While he was joined by both Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus, who were not present in the original footage.
Indeed, journalist Charles Watts reckons Arteta's comments over Xhaka's fitness were merely mind games, and he expects the midfielder to start against City.
“Team news wise Granit Xhaka is there, he is available he has travelled," Watts said on his YouTube channel.
"That is good news because he missed the game against Southampton on Friday with illness.
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"Mikel was doing the mind games or whatever you want to call it when saying he’s a doubt yesterday, but the expectation was that he was going to play and he was going to be fine and I’m fully expecting Granit Xhaka to start,” he added.