Mikel Arteta provides Bukayo Saka injury update ahead of Arsenal's pivotal Man City trip

Arteta has confirmed that Bukayo Saka will miss out on the trip to the Etihad -Credit:Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Arteta later added: "I don't know the situation beforehand, but I take the opportunity to hope he recovers very soon because I think he's a tremendous player.

"With B, we are handling it to protect the play first of all and then to perform as well as he possibly can. The idea is that we can possibly deliver that, so that's a challenge."

When asked whether Saka had returned to outdoor training, Arteta said: "He's just starting to do some stuff so let's see that progression, how quickly we can go through it and then wait. But at the moment it's not available."

Arsenal could be without several key players when they face Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, with Riccardo Calafiori, Martin Odegaard and Jurrien Timber all subject to late fitness assessments.

When pressed on the trio who were absent during Wednesday's goalless draw against Sporting, Arteta said: "Yeah, we will try again. Some players are quite close, but the turnaround is short, so we will try tomorrow to push everybody, and if they are in good condition, they will be part of us and if not they won't.

"They haven't been there in the last few weeks unfortunately," the Arsenal manager added. The Gunners will also remain without Mikel Merino, who continues his recovery following surgery on a foot injury sustained in February.

During the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final, Noni Madueke appeared to pick up a knee injury. The 24-year-old winger was forced off after a knee-to-knee collision with Pedro Gonçalves.

Having received on-field medical attention, Madueke hobbled off the pitch, briefly sat on the bench before heading down the tunnel. At the final whistle, he was visibly struggling with his movement.

On Madueke, Arteta said: "Well, we have another training session tomorrow so he didn't look that bad after the game and he was quite positive.

It remains to be seen if Noni Madueke will be available for Arsenal on Sunday -Credit:Ed Sykes/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images

"He's a player that pushes through pain so I'm hopeful that he can be available but we have to wait and see if he's able to join tomorrow."

Arsenal have the chance to re-establish their nine-point advantage at the summit of the Premier League this weekend. Reflecting on the upcoming game, the Gunners' manager said: "It is certainly the most important one because it is the next one.

"We have earned the opportunity to win against arguably the best team and the best manager this league has ever seen. We will prepare the game to win it, that is for sure."

Meanwhile, addressing reporters at the City Football Academy, Guardiola implored his players to focus on soccer rather than the occasion. He said: "I said today to the players, it is just a football game and we have to approach it like a football game.

"If you get distracted by emotions, that is how you lose focus. What is the target? It is to perform well and that is exactly what you have got to do and all the aspects required to challenge a team like Arsenal.

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"We need to get even better. The first half against Chelsea was not bad but not great. The first 30 minutes against Liverpool was not good either. The first 30 minutes against Arsenal in the final they were better.

"You cannot pretend that these kinds of teams will be 90/95 minutes perfect, but this one aspect is not about the future, present or past, it's about confidence, which is an incredible aspect.

"If you could buy confidence in a supermarket we would buy it immediately. It is one of the most important aspects. The reality is, there are seven games left in the Premier League and that is the decisive moment."