XHAKA AHEAD OF SCHEDULE – ARTETA

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed that Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka could soon be back on the pitch. He made this known while providing an injury update on Xhaka during his latest press conference on Thursday morning ahead of the Premier League clash with bottom team Newcastle United.

Mikel Arteta told reporters that Xhaka is ahead of scheduled as he works his way back to full fitness after his knee injury. The Arsenal manager is optimistic that the Swiss national team skipper would make his return from injury before the end of this year.

Xhakahas been out of the Arsenal squad since he sustained a knee injury during the final quarter of the North London Derby victory over Tottenham Hotspur in September. His injury overshadowed the impressive 3-1 home win over Spurs thanks to goals from Emile Smith-Rowe, Pierre-EmerickAubameyang and Bukayo Saka. South Korean attacker Son Heung-Min got the Spurs goal.

At the time of the injury, Xhaka was ruled out for three months. The expectation was that the midfielder will return to Arsenal training at the start of January. However, he could be back earlier than expected following the latest update from Arteta. The player was recently pictured in light training at the start of this month as he works his way back to being fit.

Mikel Arteta and his players have largely been able to cope well without an experienced player like Xhaka who has missed the lastseven Arsenal games in all competitions. Arsenal were on a ten-matchunbeaten run in all competitions before they faced Liverpool in the Premier League on Saturday evening. Arsenal could not survive the firepower from hosts Liverpoolwho ran out 4-0 winners.Sadio Mane, Diogo Jota, Mohamed Salah and second half substituteTakumi Minamino were all on target for the Reds.