Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka has been tipped by Charles Watts to start against Manchester City tonight.
The Goal.com Gunners correspondent spoke about the big Premier League fixture on his YouTube channel.
Xhaka missed out on Arsenal’s draw with Southampton last week due to illness.
Fabio Vieira deputised in that match, but he failed to make much of an impact for the Premier League leaders.
Mikel Arteta, speaking at his pre-match press conference, said the Switzerland international remained a doubt.
However, Xhaka has travelled with the Arsenal squad for the match at the Etihad Stadium.
And Watts believes this means Arteta is likely to unleash the 30-year-old midfield enforcer.
“Team news-wise Granit Xhaka is there, he is available, he has travelled,” said Watts.
“That is good news because he missed the game against Southampton on Friday with illness.
“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.
“I’m fully expecting Xhaka to start.”
Our view
This is great news for Arsenal if indeed Xhaka is available to start. Fans should be excited about the prospect of seeing him back in the XI.
The ‘phenomenal‘ ace is one of the Gunners’ most important players, and the midfield battle will be crucial tonight.
Xhaka has been crucial at both ends of the pitch and his experience and tenacity are desperately needed against City.
We’ll see what happens, but Watts certainly seems positive about the possibility for Xhaka to start in such a big game.
Arsenal currently sit top of the table on 75 points, having played 32 matches in the league this season.
Meanwhile, City sit on 70 points, but have two games in hand on Arteta’s Gunners.
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