Arsenal were facing sickness bug ripping through Mikel Arteta’s side against Wolves with Xhaka and FOUR others ill

ARSENAL were ravaged with illness before their 2-0 win against Wolves with a number of top stars suffering from a sickness bug.

The Gunners moved five points clear at the top of the Premier League following the win, ensuring their place at the top of the tree for Christmas.

But it didn’t come without challenges, with a sickness bug hitting top Arsenal star Granit Xhaka and four others.

Boss Mikel Arteta reverted to his strongest XI after their midweek EFL Cup exit to Brighton, but he was forced to bring Xhaka off after just 16 minutes.

The Switzerland captain and Arsenal fan favourite was not nursing an injury, but instead was hunched over.

Xhaka was replaced by Fabio Vieira, and following the win, Arteta confirmed the squad had been hit with a sickness bug.

Speaking to Sky Sports News after the game, Arteta said: “He wasn’t feeling good, he was sick.

“He could not carry on. Unfortunately we have another four players with the same symptoms, so I don’t know exactly what happened.

“There were a few players not feeling great. Obviously we could not make three or four substitutions during that period.

“The good thing was that under the context, playing every three days, away from home, we still manage to come here and play well and win the game.”;

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Arteta continued: “He’s fine, he wasn’t feeling good and for Granit to put his hand up and say: ‘I need to come off’. He wasn’t feeling good at all.

“We had a few boys with some tummy issues and obviously we cannot change three or four in the first half, but I’m delighted that we adapted to those circumstances and we managed to win the game.

“Not overnight. I think it was after the pre-match meal but I didn’t even know about it.

“And the doctor was trying to get some place sorted, because they weren’t feeling good.”;