Mikel Arteta has revealed the reason why Granit Xhaka was absent from Arsenal's Premier League clash with Southampton on Friday evening.
The Swiss international was omitted from the Gunners' matchday squad against the bottom-of-the-table due to illness. He was replaced by Portuguese Fabio Vieira alongside Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard in midfield.
It was one of two changes to the side that drew 2-2 with West Ham last week. Oleksandr Zinchenko returned to the starting XI at left-back with Kieran Tierney dropping down to the bench.
