Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted that his squad might head into the weekend clash against Arsenal a little undercooked after a taxing start to the new season.
The Premier League champions have already played six games in all competitions and have picked up a plethora of injuries in the last month, ranging from minor knocks to long-term absentees.
“It is what it is. I don’t control the schedule, the calendar,” Guardiola said on the back of the midweek draw against Inter Milan. “We have to play in the Champions League: Inter at home and now Arsenal. No complaints at all.
“The players have behaved really well so far this season. Since the Community Shield we have had a lot of [injury] problems.”
In addition, the late return of several players to pre-season has impacted the squad in the early weeks of the 2024/25 term, with Guardiola claiming after the win against West Ham United on 31 August that pre-season was finally over.
It means that not everyone is yet back up to full speed, particularly the likes of Kyle Walker, John Stones, Phil Foden and Rodri. There are also two major injuries for Guardiola to contend with, and a fresh problem that arose on Wednesday when Kevin De Bruyne was replaced with a knock.
Here’s the latest on all of City’s recent absentees ahead of the top-of-the-table encounter against Arsenal…
1. Kyle Walker (Back)
Played 90 minutes last week against Brentford and is available to start if called upon. But Walker dropped out of the team in midweek and appears to be behind Rico Lewis in the pecking order at present.
2. Nathan Ake (Possible return: 20 October)
Guardiola confirmed earlier this month that Ake won't be back until after the October international break after sustaining an injury when representing the Netherlands during the last round of games.
3. John Stones (Back)
Like Walker, returned against Brentford but that is his only start of the season. If needed, the defender is fit to start on Sunday.
4. Rodri (Back)
Has played in the last two games and completed the full 90 minutes in the midweek draw with Inter. Rodri will almost certainly start against Arsenal