Granit Xhaka is to return to London Colney earlier than expected following the suspension of Switzerland’s match with Ukraine.
Tuesday night's game was cancelled after a series of positive tests for COVID-19 among the Ukraine camp according to Swiss outlet Blick.
The game was already in doubt after three of their players returned positive tests on Monday. But now it has emerged that three more – Ruslan Malinovsky, Sergei Kryvtsov and Junior Moraes – were confirmed to have the virus on Tuesday. Ukraine’s physio Ivan Bashtovy has also tested positive.
UEFA’s official rules state that games should go along ahead as long as each team has 13 available players. But after local health authorities in Lucern took the decision to isolate the entire Ukrainian squad, the game can no longer go ahead.
It is currently unclear as to whether either side will now have to forfeit the match or whether the game will be replayed at a later date.
Regardless of this Granit Xhaka is expected to return to London as soon as possible.
He is the second player to be involved in a COVID-related incident after Mohamed Elneny tested positive for the virus on Monday.
Mikel Arteta will be glad that Xhaka is not being put at risk by playing the Nations League game for his country ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League return against Leeds on Sunday.
With Elneny now out, and Thomas Partey facing a race against time to recover from the thigh strain he sustained in the defeat to Aston Villa, the 28-year-old is expected to start at Elland Road.
Mikel Arteta will be hoping to have as much of his squad as possible available to chose from for the match. Dani Ceballos and Joe Willock are also available as options for the Spaniard to chose from in central midfield.
Arteta is facing some of the most intense pressure of his short career as Arsenal manager following back-to-back home defeats to Leicester and Aston Villa have left the Gunners in 11th place in the Premier League after eight matches.
