Mikel Arteta provides update on Granit Xhaka and Calum Chambers after Chelsea loss

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has provided a fitness update on Granit Xhaka and Calum Chambers following the club’s disappointing 2-1 defeat to Chelsea in the Premier League.

The Gunners had the opportunity to register their first home league win since early October and they looked good value for the same after holding onto a 1-0 lead up to the 83rd minute.

However, a poor bit of goalkeeping from Bernd Leno from a free-kick gifted Jorginho with the levelling goal and few moments later, Tammy Abraham managed to grab the winning strike for the visitors after getting the better of Shkodran Mustafi.

As a result, Arteta has yet to taste success in a managerial capacity after two matches with the club and speaking after the Blues clash, he has provided an update on the fitness of Xhaka and Chambers.

Xhaka was announced to be ill prior to the derby at the Emirates Stadium and when asked in his post-match press conference, Arteta stated that there was no other reason behind his absence.

“He played at Bournemouth, he played really well, he was very committed, he played a really good game. After the game he started to feel ill. He had a temperature and he wasn’t feeling good. The last two days he’s been in bed. That’s why he’s not been selected,” he told.

Meanwhile, Chambers was substituted after just 20 minutes of the derby with an apparent knee problem and Arteta has acknowledged that the centre-back may have suffered an injury which could kept him out for a while.

“The doctors are assessing him. The first feeling he got, it wasn’t very positive,” he added.

Arsenal’s top-four prospects have taken a huge blow with the defeat to Frank Lampard’s side. They are now 11 points adrift of the Champions League spots. A Premier League clash against Manchester United awaits them on New Year’s Day at home.