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Football London
Football London
Sport
Tashan Deniran-Alleyne

What the Switzerland manager has done to Granit Xhaka ahead of crucial Euro 2020 qualifier

Granit Xhaka is currently out of favour with Arsenal and Unai Emery.

The midfielder hasn't featured for the Gunners since being substituted in the 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace last month - a game in which he made the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

As he slowly walked off the pitch he gestured obscenities to the fans who were booing him, threw his shirt to the ground as he stormed down the tunnel.

That's the last time Xhaka has been seen on a football pitch.

Well, until this evening.

The 27-year-old has been named in the Switzerland line-up for their Euro 2020 qualifier against Georgia where a win for the hosts would see them climb above the Republic of Ireland in the standings.

It's certainly a big call from Swiss manager Vladimir Petković as it's three weeks since Xhaka last played and it remains to be seen if he's able to last the full 90 minutes.

Gunners fans might take an interest in how their former captain gets on as Emery hasn't ruled out recalling the midfielder after the international break.

"It is important to stay without Granit Xhaka now but I don't know, maybe he can play in the future maybe he cannot," Emery said.

Granit Xhaka leaves the pitch after being subbed during Arsenal's draw against Crystal Palace (Alex Morton/Getty Images)

"The club also knows how both of us are thinking about that circumstance.

"After the international break, I am going to speak to him again. The club is also speaking with him and we are going to decide how he is and how we are going to use him."

This evening could also be used as an audition for any potential suitors for Xhaka amid talk that he could be on the move in the Januart transfer window.

Newcastle United and AC Milan are just two of the clubs reportedly interested in the Gunners midfielder and a good performance against Georgia could attract eyes from elsewhere.

Granit Xhaka stripped of Arsenal captaincy
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