Granit Xhaka uses Chinese cupping to recover from groin injury

GRANIT XHAKA has joined the list of sportsmen to indulge in "cupping" as he looks to get back to full fitness.

Cupping - traced back to ancient Chinese times - sees therapists put special cups on their clients' skin to create suction.

The process - which only lasts for a few minutes - is believed to ease muscle soreness and pain, as well as increasing blood flow and relaxation and to provide a deep-tissue massage.

Clients are usually left with red circular marks on the affected area, which normally take around ten days to fade.

Swiss midfielder Xhaka was the latest sports star to test out the treatment on his left groin as he hopes to get back on the pitch, having missed the last two Premier League games.

Xhaka, 26, was involved in a fiery confrontation with Jesse Lingard in his last outing for the Gunners

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Perfect way to start the day. Good food followed by a deep tissue massage - intense stretch & cupping to finish the healing process. Im trying to stay ahead of the competition one way or another. Thank you @mixedmassage 🇬🇧 www.ajboxing.com 🇬🇧

A post shared by Anthony Joshua(@anthony_joshua) on Jun 5, 2015 at 6:11am PDT

Neymar is another player who has benefited from the cupping treatment

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He was an unused substitute in last week's 2-1 win against Cardiff, while he failed to travel with the squad that lost against Manchester City yesterday.

Taking to Instagram where he posted a picture of him observing the cups on his leg, he told his 1.8 million followers he is doing everything he can to get back into selection.

He said: "Tough Sunday... but I am doing everything possible to recover from the injury that kept me from playing the last 2 games!

"Can't wait to be back on pitch fighting with the team!"

Xhaka has been involved in 25 games in all competitions for the Gunners this season, chipping in with three goals and one assist.

But despite being a lynchpin of the side, he was involved in an angry confrontation with supporters after the North London giants crashed out of the FA Cup at the hands of Manchester United.

Arsenal's Granit Xhaka in angry confrontation with fans in the street after FA Cup defeat to Man Utd