November 13, (THEWILL) – Granit Xhaka had to be replaced after just 15 minutes of Arsenal’s match against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday night, raising concerns with the World Cup kickoff imminent.
The Switzerland midfielder has had an outstanding start to the season and established himself as a key member of the Gunners’ team as they now hold the first spot in the English Premier League, but he did not appear at his best early on.
Just minutes into the game, Mikel Arteta signalled for substitutes, Mohamed Elneny and Fabio Vieira, to start warming up, but Xhaka kept going as long as he could. However, he lasted no longer than 15 minutes and did not look well as he departed the field with Vieira taking his place.
It is unclear what exactly forced Xhaka off against Wolves, but it is important to note that he did not leave clutching a muscle or feeling particularly uncomfortable as a result of any sort of challenge prior to his discomfort.
On November 17, Switzerland will face Ghana in their opening World Cup match, and they will be hoping for the availability of their talisman.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
