Manchester City injury report ahead of Arsenal showdown

Even so, the situation is not as severe as it might first appear.

Since signing Marc Guehi in January, City have had another natural option available at centre-back, while Abdukodir Khusanov and Nathan Ake also remain fit, leaving Guardiola with enough cover to field a proper central defensive pairing against Arsenal.

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The more positive news for City concerns O’Reilly. The left-back had been a doubt after suffering a hamstring problem last week, having been forced off in the second half of the win over Chelsea, but Guardiola confirmed on Friday that he is fit.

Speaking at his press conference, Guardiola said O’Reilly was “fine”, but added that Dias was “not ready”.

That is a significant boost given O’Reilly’s growing importance to City over the few months. In total, he has has contributed nine goals in 46 appearances this season, including the two he scored against Arsenal in last month’s Carabao Cup final.

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Away from defence, City are not expected to be missing any midfielders, wingers or forwards against Arsenal, and their goalkeepers are also fit and available.

The injury concerns are concentrated almost entirely at centre-back, and even there Guardiola’s side have already been managing with absences in recent weeks.

The wider significance of Sunday’s game was not lost on Guardiola either. With City trying to close the gap at the top, the manager accepted the scale of the occasion when asked whether the match amounted to a final.

“Yeah, obviously,” he said.

“If we lose, yeah, it’s over.

“But the other two results knowing Arsenal didn’t win against Bournemouth, still they have games to play.

“Six games is a lot in our calendar.

“Everton away, Bournemouth away, Aston Villa the last game at home, Palace of course and Brentford home.

“Crystal Palace what’s going on and Aston Villa in Europe, so still many things to do.”

You can read about Arsenal’s injuries, which are, as usual, much more significant than City’s, here.