Mikel Arteta offered a worrying injury update on Granit Xhaka and William Saliba ahead of Arsenal's clash against Manchester City tonight. Pep Guardiola's side host the Gunners to the Etihad Stadium in a potential title-deciding clash.
Arsenal head into the game five points clear of the reigning champions - but City do have two games in hand on the Premier League leaders. A win for Arteta's side will move them eight points clear with just five games left to play and the title firmly in their own hands.
Saliba looks set to miss the crucial fixture as he continues to recover from a back injury he sustained last month. Xhaka missed the 3-3 draw against Southampton last weekend and is yet to return to training ahead of the trip to the Etihad Stadium.
READ MORE: Arsenal can sign perfect Declan Rice alternative and complete Liverpool £35m transfer hijack
With that said, football.london has rounded up the latest injury news from London Colney.
Granit Xhaka
Xhaka was missing from the starting line-up against Southampton and his absence was felt in the final-third. The Switzerland international was unavailable due to illness and was not spotted in training this week ahead of the game against Guardiola's side.
What Arteta has said: Before the game against the Saints, the Arsenal boss said: "This morning unfortunately Granit [Xhaka] wasn’t feeling well so we had to get him out of the squad."
Speaking ahead of the Man City clash, Arteta said: "Granit has been out. Hopefully he’ll be able to train today but he’s still a doubt - the rest [of the squad] are OK."
Expected return date: Chelsea (H) - Tuesday, May 2
William Saliba
Saliba limped off in Arsenal's exit from the Europa League against Sporting CP, suffering an issue with his back that forced the youngster to be substituted. The defender has missed the last few games and is set to miss the clash against City after a worrying update from Arteta.
What Arteta has said: "Regarding William [Saliba], we still have to wait a little bit more. He is not progressing as quick as we hoped. It’s a bit delicate and we want to be very certain when we push him that he is ready to absorb the load and the risk that we will take and at the moment that’s not possible to do.
"I don’t know [if it's season ending], it’s a bit early to do [predictions]. Probably next week we are going to have more certainty. There is some evolution, he is doing more activity, but he is not there yet to start to throw him on the pitch at the level that the sessions demand to compete in this league.
"There’s not been a real improvement unfortunately on him, so we’re still waiting," Arteta said ahead of the City game. "We’re still hopeful, but another week has gone by and he hasn’t been able to train with the team.
"At the moment we don’t have him. We are preparing the game without him and probably the next game will come too soon as well. We have to go week by week at the moment."
Expected return date: Unknown
Takehiro Tomiyasu
Takehiro Tomiyasu was substituted inside the first ten minutes of the Gunners' clash against Sporting CP at the Emirates Stadium. The Japanese defender had overstretched for a tackle early in the match and had to receive treatment on the pitch shortly afterwards and was unable to continue.
The Japan international wasn't in the squad to face Crystal Palace, with it later confirmed he had undergone knee surgery. Now the medical staff have learned the extent of the defender's injury.
An official club statement read: "Tomi has had successful surgery in London on Tuesday and will be ruled out for the remainder of this season. Everyone at the club will now be working hard with Tomi, so he can join pre-season training ahead of next season."
What Arteta has said: "We don’t know. The doctor is assessing. We have one assessment and I think they need to have another assessment tomorrow. It’s not looking good. Tomi is not one to exaggerate things. He was really concerned straight away and we are concerned."
Expected return date: June
Mohamed Elneny
Elneny started in the FA Cup win over Oxford United and played the whole 90 minutes. However, the Egyptian was absent for Arteta's squad for the 2-0 win at Tottenham, with a knee issue picked up in training ahead of the clash being assessed. Additionally, there was no place on the bench to face Manchester United.
A club statement then confirmed that the former Basel man will be out for an extended period of time, although no timescale was given on his expected return. Elneny has since penned a new deal at Arsenal as he closes in on a return.
Expected return date: Unknown
READ NEXT:
Every word Mikel Arteta said on William Saliba fitness, Granit Xhaka doubt and stopping Haaland
White and Saka battle, Vieira hint: Four things spotted in Arsenal training ahead of Man City
Jack Grealish weakness, Rob Holding alternative - how Arsenal can beat Manchester City
Latest Man City injury news as one misses Arsenal and Guardiola settles Erling Haaland question
Kolo Toure delivers prediction for Man City vs Arsenal title clash amid Rob Holding admission
