Arsenal news: Granit Xhaka gives Gabriel Jesus update amid sickness issue ahead of Fulham
Arsenal face a difficult task against Fulham in the Premier League on Sunday after returning from Sporting Lisbon where they faced injury problems and managed a draw
Arsenal are preparing to face Fulham in the Premier League on Sunday after returning from Portugal following his Europa League exploits.
The Gunners drew 2-2 at Sporting Lisbon on Thursday night in an entertaining round of 16 first leg. Though Mikel Arteta was reluctant to rotate his squad too much this season, the game saw starts for Matt Turner, Jakub Kiwior, Fabio Vieira and Reiss Nelson.
Arteta will return to his strongest side on Sunday, with the trip to Craven Cottage a clear priority for Arsenal as they chase a first Premier League title in 19 years. They know they have a tough test ahead of them and Marco Silva’s side have been in excellent form lately.
Here’s the latest matchday news from Arsenal as they seek to restore their lead over Manchester City to five points after Erling Haaland’s penalty gave Pep Guardiola’s side a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday night.
Xhaka informs Jesus
Arsenal are likely to be without Eddie Nketiah and Leandro Trossard for the journey through London to Fulham through injury. That should again play a central role for Gabriel Martinelli, who moved in from the wing against Sporting.
Gabriel Jesus is back in training after his knee injury at the World Cup but missed the trip to Portugal. He is unlikely to be fit enough for the Fulham game – and Granit Xhaka is desperate for him to return.
“We also lost Eddie, so it’s much more important to have Gabi back,” he said Thursday night. “Leo is also injured and can play in this position.
“I hope that step by step Gabi becomes 100 percent fit to help this team because we know he can help us. With his attitude, with his personality, he is very, very important to us.”
Disease bugs fade away
Arsenal have been without captain Martin Odegaard and Kieran Tierney in Portugal as illness has gripped the camp.
Vieira was also withdrawn from the press service on Wednesday after feeling unwell. He managed to play the next day, but the illness worried him.
Luckily for Arsenal, it appears to have faded from view. Odegaard is expected to play against Fulham and Tierney is likely to be on the bench as part of the matchday squad.
Fans demand a blackout from the end to 3 p.m
Nelson’s dramatic winner at Bournemouth was a big moment in Arsenal’s season – and potentially in the race for the Premier League title – but it was missed by millions of football fans in Britain.
The 3pm lockdown, which means matches cannot be televised live on Saturday afternoons between 2.45pm and 5.15pm, was introduced in the 1960s and still exists today.
It’s meant to protect the sanctity of match attendance, but many believe it’s completely obsolete now that fans are missing out on their expensive TV subscriptions.
Mirror Football conducted a poll on social media this week in which 80.8 per cent out of 1,226 respondents said the rule should be scrapped.
Read more about our investigation here.