Manchester City head to Arsenal in the Premier League but will be without a key defender as John Stones continues his recovery.

John Stones has been ruled out of the crucial Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal by Pep Guardiola.

Due to a number of injuries, Stones hasn’t played for the Blues since the Community Shield in August.

This week, he returned to training in an effort to demonstrate his health.

The England defender was both selected in Gareth Southgate’s squad for the national team’s forthcoming matches as well as the Champions League match against RB Leipzig.

However, Guardiola said that the centre-back will not be fit to feature against Arsenal even if he is subsequently able to play for his country.

Already without Kevin De Bruyne due to injury and Rodri due to suspension, City will have to find another solution to their midfield.

“John Stones is not ready to play. Maybe for the national team but not for us,” he said.

“We start to talk today with my staff to analyse tomorrow morning, we have to prepare the game.

With Rodri, we are talking one of the best – maybe the best – holding midfielders in the world so it is normal. If he is not [able to play], we always handle it over many years.

We find a solution with our players, the way we are going to press and what they can do.