Pep Guardiola looks set to be without Dias for the title showdown, though Nico OâReilly has been passed fit after his recent injury scare.
Manchester City will be without Ruben Dias for Sundayâs meeting with Arsenal, but Pep Guardiola has at least been able to welcome Nico OâReilly back into contention before the latest title showdown.
Dias will not be available this weekend and his ankle injury is expected to keep him out for the rest of April. There had been some hope he could recover in time for the Arsenal game after missing the League Cup final with the problem he picked up in Cityâs Champions League exit to Real Madrid, but that is no longer thought likely.
City are also still without Josko Gvardiol, while there are doubts over John Stones.
Even so, the situation is not as severe as it might first appear.
Since signing Marc Guehi in January, City have had another natural option available at centre-back, while Abdukodir Khusanov and Nathan Ake also remain fit, leaving Guardiola with enough cover to field a proper central defensive pairing against Arsenal.
The more positive news for City concerns OâReilly. The left-back had been a doubt after suffering a hamstring problem last week, having been forced off in the second half of the win over Chelsea, but Guardiola confirmed on Friday that he is fit.
Speaking at his press conference, Guardiola said OâReilly was âfineâ, but added that Dias was ânot readyâ.
That is a significant boost given OâReillyâs growing importance to City over the few months. In total, he has has contributed nine goals in 46 appearances this season, including the two he scored against Arsenal in last monthâs Carabao Cup final.
Away from defence, City are not expected to be missing any midfielders, wingers or forwards against Arsenal, and their goalkeepers are also fit and available.
The injury concerns are concentrated almost entirely at centre-back, and even there Guardiolaâs side have already been managing with absences in recent weeks.
The wider significance of Sundayâs game was not lost on Guardiola either. With City trying to close the gap at the top, the manager accepted the scale of the occasion when asked whether the match amounted to a final.
âYeah, obviously,â he said.
âIf we lose, yeah, itâs over.
âBut the other two results knowing Arsenal didnât win against Bournemouth, still they have games to play.
âSix games is a lot in our calendar.
âEverton away, Bournemouth away, Aston Villa the last game at home, Palace of course and Brentford home.
âCrystal Palace whatâs going on and Aston Villa in Europe, so still many things to do.â
You can read about Arsenalâs injuries, which are, as usual, much more significant than Cityâs, here.
Manchester City will be without Ruben Dias for Sundayâs meeting with Arsenal, but Pep Guardiola has at least been able to welcome Nico OâReilly back into contention before the latest title showdown.
Dias will not be available this weekend and his ankle injury is expected to keep him out for the rest of April. There had been some hope he could recover in time for the Arsenal game after missing the League Cup final with the problem he picked up in Cityâs Champions League exit to Real Madrid, but that is no longer thought likely.
City are also still without Josko Gvardiol, while there are doubts over John Stones.
Even so, the situation is not as severe as it might first appear.
Since signing Marc Guehi in January, City have had another natural option available at centre-back, while Abdukodir Khusanov and Nathan Ake also remain fit, leaving Guardiola with enough cover to field a proper central defensive pairing against Arsenal.
The more positive news for City concerns OâReilly. The left-back had been a doubt after suffering a hamstring problem last week, having been forced off in the second half of the win over Chelsea, but Guardiola confirmed on Friday that he is fit.
Speaking at his press conference, Guardiola said OâReilly was âfineâ, but added that Dias was ânot readyâ.
That is a significant boost given OâReillyâs growing importance to City over the few months. In total, he has has contributed nine goals in 46 appearances this season, including the two he scored against Arsenal in last monthâs Carabao Cup final.
Away from defence, City are not expected to be missing any midfielders, wingers or forwards against Arsenal, and their goalkeepers are also fit and available.
The injury concerns are concentrated almost entirely at centre-back, and even there Guardiolaâs side have already been managing with absences in recent weeks.
The wider significance of Sundayâs game was not lost on Guardiola either. With City trying to close the gap at the top, the manager accepted the scale of the occasion when asked whether the match amounted to a final.
âYeah, obviously,â he said.
âIf we lose, yeah, itâs over.
âBut the other two results knowing Arsenal didnât win against Bournemouth, still they have games to play.
âSix games is a lot in our calendar.
âEverton away, Bournemouth away, Aston Villa the last game at home, Palace of course and Brentford home.
âCrystal Palace whatâs going on and Aston Villa in Europe, so still many things to do.â
You can read about Arsenalâs injuries, which are, as usual, much more significant than Cityâs, here.
