January 31st 2025.
Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, will have to face the upcoming match against Arsenal without several key players. Jeremy Doku, Ruben Dias, and Nathan Ake will all be unavailable for the Premier League showdown at the Emirates Stadium. This comes after City's midweek triumph against Club Brugge, which saved their Champions League campaign.
Currently, City is trailing behind Arsenal by six points, making this weekend's game crucial for them. The two teams last met in September, where a heated 2-2 draw took place at the Etihad Stadium. Despite being drawn against Real Madrid in the upcoming play-offs, Guardiola's immediate focus is on Sunday's game.
Unfortunately, the injured trio of Doku, Dias, and Ake will not be making the trip down south with the rest of the team. At his pre-match press conference on Friday, Guardiola confirmed that there are no new injury concerns. However, their absence will surely be felt on the field.
Doku, who has been out of action for the last three games, sustained a knock during their victory over Ipswich. While the exact nature of his injury has not been disclosed, Guardiola is worried that it may keep him out for an extended period.
Dias, on the other hand, had to leave the field during City's Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain due to an adductor issue. Guardiola stated last week that he is unsure of how long the defender will be out for, but it is clear that his absence will be felt in the upcoming game.
Ake has only managed to start seven league games this season, and his return date is also uncertain. Meanwhile, Oscar Bobb, who suffered a leg fracture in August, has resumed training with the team. However, it is likely that his return to the field will be in City's FA Cup fourth-round match against Leyton Orient.
As for Arsenal, they will also be without several key players, including Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, and Ben White. Goalkeeper David Raya is also a minor doubt for the game. With both teams missing key players, it will be interesting to see how they line up on Sunday.
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