A top stat from BT Sport’s Matt Smith: He reveals that it is three years to the day since Granit Xhaka cupped his ear and “conducted” Arsenal fans before removing his shirt and throwing it on the ground as they booed him off when he was substituted during a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace. His has been quite the redemption story.

Mikel Arteta speaks: “Matt felt something in his groin last night so we decided to play Aaron,” says the Arsenal manager of his unexpected goalkeeper switcheroo in an interview with BT Sport. “You will see when the game starts, obviously,” he says with a grin upon being asked what role Eddie Nketiah will play. “We’re going to play the same way we always play, come here to win the game, to be dominant and don’t change the way we’ve been playing.”

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