Mikel Arteta says it was hard to let Joe Willock leave Arsenal

Mikel Arteta says that selling Joe Willock in the summer was a “tough decision,” but he needed to play more often.

Mikel Arteta says it was hard to let Joe Willock leave Arsenal, the Gunners boss said this during a press conference ahead of Newcastle visit to the Emirates stadium.

He went on to say “I think it will be really nice to have him [back], we all love and like Joe,”

“Obviously it was a difficult decision to make to let him go, but I think he’s shown that’s what he needs as well to play the minutes that he’s finding there and find a new challenge.

“Yes {I’ve spoken to him] – not this week, but I have done it before and he knows the reception he’s going to get.”

Mikel Arteta team will host Eddie Howe Newcastle in the Premier League at the Emirates stadium in a lunchtime kickoff.

The Gunners have enjoyed a good run of results in this fixture, winning sixteen(16) out of their past seventeen (17) Premier League games against Newcastle, with the exception being a 2-1 away loss in April 2018.

Newcastle has lost their past nine Premier League games at Arsenal, failing to score in the past five, although in 2010 the Magpies secured a 1-0 victory.

Eddie Howe has struggled against Arsenal, he has managed to secure just five points from thirty(30) points available in his Premier League meetings with Arsenal, losing all five of his visits to Emirates stadium.

INJURY UPDATES ON XHAKA AND KOLASINAC…

GRANIT XHAKA

Knee on the right side. Granit Xhaka is continuing to make strong progress after sustaining a medial knee ligament injury on September 26. Granit’s recovery has progressed to the point where he can now run outside, with the goal of returning to full training in December.

SEAD KOLASINAC

Ankle on the left. During the November international period, Sead suffered a serious injury to his left ankle while playing for Bosnia and Herzegovina. Sead kolasinac is making good progress in his recuperation, with the current goal of returning to full training in January.