Arsenal faces attacking injury concerns ahead of their match against Manchester City, with Noni Madueke limping off in a recent game. Key players Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard are also under fitness scrutiny.
Arsenal suffer attacking injury ahead of Manchester City showdown
Mikel Arteta’s attacking options ahead of Arsenal’s huge clash with Manchester City on Sunday afternoon have taken a significant hit in the days approaching the game.
The North Londoners secured their place in the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday night following a tense, goalless draw with Sporting CP at the Emirates Stadium.
While the result ensured aggregate progression for the Gunners thanks to their 1-0 advantage gained from the Portuguese capital, the physical toll of the encounter is likely to have left the Premier League leaders reeling just days before a season-defining trip to the Etihad Stadium.
Arsenal’s momentum has stuttered in recent weeks, following a shock 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth that allowed City to close within six points with a game in hand.
And with the title race now entering its most volatile phase, Mikel Arteta’s medical room is becoming increasingly crowded, possibly leaving the Spaniard with a selection headache in the North-West this weekend.
Arteta sustained a major blow to his forward options ahead of Sunday’s clash at the Etihad Stadium, with Noni Madueke forced off during Arsenal’s goalless draw with Sporting following a knee-to-knee collision with Pedro Goncalves.
Noni Madueke hobbled off during the Champions League clash with Sporting, raising concerns about his fitness.
Arsenal is sweating over the fitness of six players, including Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard.
Manchester City is nearing full-strength, while Arsenal is dealing with significant injury concerns among key attacking players.
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Madueke was replaced by Max Dowman, and notably hobbled off the field at the Emirates Stadium before making his way down the tunnel, returning to the dugout shortly afterwards for the remainder of the contest.
Speaking to reporters at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night, Arteta confirmed Madueke had picked up a knock during the game, explaining, “I don’t know, it was something in his knee so we had to take him off.”
The injury to Madueke adds to a growing list of concerns after a number of names initially missed Tuesday’s open training session; Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber, and Riccardo Calafiori.
Thankfully for Arteta, Rice was able to return immediately to duties and start for Arsenal against Sporting, with all of the other names excluded from the matchday squad entirely.
In stark contrast, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City appear to be finding their peak fitness at the perfect moment, particularly notably through a 3-0 demolition of Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last time out.
However, Ruben Dias and John Stones remain sidelined with their own recovery processes with recent muscular issues, while Rayan Cherki continues to showcase scintillating form as he personally builds up to the biggest game of his Etihad career this weekend.