This archive report was first published on 17 June 2020.
On June 17, 2020, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was facing a tough decision regarding his lineup for the upcoming match against Manchester City.
Granit Xhaka, the Swiss midfielder, had been managing an issue that kept him from starting in the warm-up friendlies against Charlton and Brentford. However, he had trained this week and it was Arteta's call on whether he was match sharp.
Despite not being 100 percent, Xhaka was still expected to start, unless there were any late issues with the former skipper. The Arsenal boss had a rich crop of youngsters, including 22-year-old midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who had impressed in training and featured in the friendlies.
Arteta saw Maitland-Niles as having potential as a midfielder, having been played out of position at full back or wing back previously. However, Maitland-Niles was likely to have talks with Arteta in the next week over his future and role in the squad set-up in the long term.
As Arsenal prepared to face Manchester City, Arteta's lineup was still uncertain, with Xhaka's fitness a major concern.
