Man City and Arsenal could be without 9 players after Kevin De Bruyne injury scare
Manchester City has its fingers crossed regarding Kevin De Bruyne's fitness as they gear up for a blockbuster Premier League encounter with Arsenal at the Etihad on Sunday.
Last season's heavyweights are coming together once again, potentially missing nine players between them due to injuries with City topping the table.
In what turned out to be a goalless Champions League standoff against Inter Milan, De Bruyne had to leave the pitch as halftime crept in. With this early exit, De Bruyne now gets an additional day's rest compared to Arsenal, who have their own continental commitments with Atalanta on Thursday night.
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Following an on-field collision with keeper Yann Sommer that saw him seeking medical attention, scans are booked in on Thursday for the midfield maestro.
City boss Pep Guardiola, reflecting on the situation post-match, said: "I didn't speak with the doctors yet," before adding, "I will have more info tomorrow."
"The way they [Inter] defend, I was thinking after 35 minutes that I wanted to make this substitution. After the doctor said to me that Kevin was not ready to play but I was ready to make this substitution anyway."
Meanwhile, fears also surface over Savinho, who like De Bruyne, didn't play past the first half against Inter. The Brazilians chances of making the team sheet for the Arsenal match are subject to speculation, but Guardiola has allayed concerns, indicating a tactical reset rather than a health-related switch.
City remain without the services of Oscar Bobb, sidelined by a leg fracture, and await Nathan Akes return from a hamstring issue sustained during the recent international window, with his comeback penciled in for next month.
Arsenal head into their upcoming fixtures nursing a spate of injuries, with skipper Martin Odegaard sidelined following an injury acquired on international duty with Denmark.
His absence is expected to be considerably lengthy due to "some damage, especially on one of the ligaments in the ankle," as Arteta disclosed last Wednesday: "It's something quite significant so we're going to lose him for a while.
"He's our captain. He's been one of the biggest and best players in our team. Our identity is very linked to how he plays and behaves. It's a big test for the team to see how able we are to show a different face."
The Gunners will also miss the services of Oleksandr Zinchenko, formerly of Manchester City, who continues his recovery from a calf injury. Summer recruit Mikel Merino is similarly out of action, grappling with a shoulder injury sustained in his inaugural training session with Arsenal.
Defensive pair Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney complete the injury roster, both dealing with issues they picked up over the summer break.