For what is likely to be their hardest test of the year, Manchester City will be without Rodri once more, but they may get two important players back against Arsenal.
After getting dismissed against Wolves, Rodri is currently serving the third game of a three-game suspension, and Kevin De Bruyne won’t likely return until the new year. But John Stones and Bernardo Silva both started the 3-1 victory at RB Leipzig, playing a combined 87 minutes.
Stones has yet to play in the Premier League this season after suffering an injury following the Gunners’ defeat in the Community Shield. It is unclear, however, if Pep Guardiola will insert Stones right away given that Nathan Ake, Ruben Dias, and Manuel Akanji have all performed admirably in Stones’ absence.
Julian Alvarez, who started in place of Erling Haaland in Germany and extended his impressive form by scoring one goal and providing another in a game-winning cameo, will start there as well. Jack Grealish seems to be getting passed over in favor of Phil Foden and Jeremy Doku, with Bernardo maybe coming off the bench.
While filling in for Rodri against Wolves and Newcastle, Kalvin Phillips did not help himself and must now be afraid.
Kalvin Phillips did himself no favours while deputising for Rodri against Wolves and Newcastle and must now fear for his future at the club. Matheus Nunes and Mateo Kovacic will start as the holding midfield pair.
Manchester City predicted XI: Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol; Nunes, Kovacic; Doku, Alvarez, Foden; Haaland
Doubts: None
Outs: De Bruyne, Rodri (suspended)
Time and date: 4.30pm, Sunday, October 8, 2023
Venue: Emirates Stadium
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