Manchester City are facing a potential blow ahead of their top-of-the-table clash against Arsenal, with key players John Stones and Kyle Walker missing training on Thursday. The duo suffered injuries while on international duty with England, with Stones picking up a hamstring issue and Walker dealing with a similar problem.
The two defenders are currently undergoing assessments back at City to determine the severity of their injuries, raising concerns about their availability for the crucial match against Arsenal. The Gunners currently hold a slim one-point lead over City at the top of the Premier League table, making this match a must-win for Pep Guardiola’s side.
City are set to host Arsenal at the Etihad on Sunday, with the visitors hoping to secure a rare victory against the Manchester giants. The absence of Stones and Walker could potentially weaken City’s defense, especially with concerns also looming over the fitness of defender Manuel Akanji, who withdrew from Switzerland’s squad with a knock.
England manager Gareth Southgate expressed his disappointment at the potential absence of Stones, highlighting the importance of the defender in the national team. Southgate noted that Stones’ injury seems to be in the abductor area, adding to City’s worries ahead of the clash with Arsenal.
Guardiola may face a difficult decision regarding the involvement of Stones and Walker in the match against Arsenal, as he weighs up the risks of playing the injured duo in such a crucial fixture. City will be hoping for positive news following the assessments of their injured players, as they aim to close the gap on Arsenal at the top of the table.
“Social media scholar. Reader. Zombieaholic. Hardcore music maven. Web fanatic. Coffee practitioner. Explorer.”