Granit Xhaka returns for Arsenal in major boost for Mikel Arteta as team news 'leaked' ahead of Man City clash

Manchester City and Arsenal meet at the Etihad on Wednesday night in the biggest game of the Premier League season.

Arsenal lead City by five points at the top of the table, having played two games more than their closest rivals.

The momentum is with City, who have won their last six league matches, while Arsenal are without a win in three having drawn against Liverpool, West Ham and Southampton.

Mikel Arteta will be desperate for his side to return to winning ways with a morale-boosting victory in Manchester.

But the Gunners have beaten City just once in the last 15 meetings between the two teams in all competitions.

Arsenal team news

Granit Xhaka has been named in Arsenal's starting XI, despite Arteta previously claiming the Swiss International was a doubt for the game.

Xhaka missed the Gunners' dismal draw to Southampton on Friday, having picked up an illness in the build up to the 3-3 draw.

He replaces Fabio Vieira as the only change from that match.

And before the heavyweight clash with City, Arteta admitted the 30-year-old was still feeling under the weather.

The Spaniard said in his press conference: “Granit has been out, hopefully he will be able to train today. He is still a doubt.”

There are no further changes for Arsenal with Holding partnering Gabriel Magalhães in central defence, despite calls from certain swathes of the Gunners fanbase for the 27-year-old to be dropped.

Below is the Arsenal team in full:

Arsenal starting XI: Ramsdale; White, Holding, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Partey, Xhaka, Odegaard; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli... Subs: Turner, Tierney, Smith Rowe, Nketiah, Kiwior, Trossard, Jorginho, Vieira, Nelson.