Following a testing international break, Manchester City are assessing a host of injured players ahead of Sunday’s huge Premier League clash with Arsenal.
The Premier League is back this weekend and there is a simply huge clash taking centre stage on Sunday.
Manchester City host Arsenal with both teams battling for the Premier League title and possibly going into Sunday’s game prioritising not losing.
Arsenal head to the Etihad Stadium seeking to complete a double over City this season and prove that they have grown from last season’s title miss.
City have maybe taken a step back from last season’s treble-winning campaign and will be desperate to prove that they are still the top dogs around.
The problem for Pep Guardiola is that he has seen so many of his players pick up injuries.
England duo Kyle Walker and John Stones both went off injured against Brazil and Belgium respectively.
Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish have been nursing problems whilst both Manuel Akanji and Matheus Nunes picked up problems on international duty.
City are assessing their walking wounded ahead of Sunday’s game but have received a boost…
Manuel Akanji latest
There had been concerns that Akanji would miss out on Sunday’s game having been injured on international duty with Switzerland.
However, The Telegraph now report that Akanji took part in training Thursday, just like Nunes.
Akanji’s injury is described as just being a knock and he appears to be in line to play against Arsenal on Sunday.
This is a huge boost for City and a major relief for Guardiola heading into Sunday’s clash.
Akanji has been exceptional since joining City from Borussia Dortmund for just £15million in 2022.
That price tag has proven to be an absolute bargain for City and Akanji has taken his game to another level under Guardiola.
Guardiola has raved about Akanji, branding him ‘fast’ and ‘strong’ whilst thanking Txiki Begiristain for bringing him to City.
Whether playing at full back or centre back, Akanji has become a key player for City and will surely start against Arsenal if he is fit to play.
City will still hope to see a few more players making themselves available for Sunday, with Guardiola needing everybody on board to beat the Gunners.