Mikel Arteta has claimed that Granit Xhaka is mentally ready to play for Arsenal ‘the next minute he has clearance’ regarding COVID, as he told his press conference.
The Arsenal boss shared, ahead of their League Cup semi-final clash against Liverpool, that the ‘argument we are having’ is whether Xhaka is physically ready to play tonight.
Xhaka missed Arsenal’s FA Cup defeat to Nottingham Forest after testing positive for COVID.
And now the club are hoping the 29-year-old will be available for them if he receives a negative COVID test ahead of the Merseyside trip.
This is the update Arteta provided on Xhaka ahead of the Liverpool game.
On when they will know if Xhaka is available: “Hopefully, today (Wednesday),” said Arteta.
On whether Xhaka is physically fit if he has a negative COVID test: “That’s the argument that we are having. After COVID, they are going through that illness in a different way. Some players are having symptoms.
“For some players, it’s affecting them. Some, after a few training sessions, are struggling. And then others are completely fine, so when we have the chance to train Granit fully with the team, then we will see where he is at.
“I don’t know where he will be physically. But I know where he will be mentally. He’s going to be fully committed to play straight away, the next minute that he has the clearance.”
Xhaka has probably become even more important for Arsenal now because their midfield is already threadbare.
Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny are on Africa Cup of Nations duty, whilst Ainsley Maitland-Niles has been allowed to go out on loan.
Charlie Patino started the FA Cup game and he recently turned 18, which then leaves someone like Albert Sambi Lokonga as the experienced one, even though he only arrived in the summer and is 22.
Someone like Ben White can play in the middle of the park, as he did for Brighton and Leeds, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if Arteta goes down that road.
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