Granit Xhaka stretchered off, Pablo Mari injured in first half of Arsenal return

Former Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka has been stretchered off within seven minutes of his side's first match back after coronavirus.

The 27-year-old appeared to twist his ankle in an innocuous incident with a teammate early on during Arsenal's clash with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium this evening.

Xhaka received treatment but needed to be stretchered off, with Real Madrid loanee Dani Ceballos replacing him in just the seventh minute after more than three months out of action.

Arsenal's injury woes were then compounded by Pablo Mari also being forced off 23 minutes in, having pulled up while chasing Kyle Walker.

Worrying news early on as Granit's forced off through injury...

↪️ Granit Xhaka
🔛 @DaniCeballos46 #MCIARS 0-0 (8) pic.twitter.com/WYEWr7GPxe

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) June 17, 2020

Xhaka was making his 30th appearance of the season for Mikel Arteta's side, while Mari was playing just his third game for the club.