Pep Guardiola has given a brief injury update ahead of the match as Manchester City prepare for the crucial Premier League clash against Arsenal.
Josep Guardiola provides injury update (Image: YouTube/Manchester City)
Manchester City star Nico O’Reilly is fit to face Arsenal in this weekend’s crucial Premier League clash, manager Josep Guardiola has revealed. The country is eagerly anticipating this weekend’s potential title decider against the Gunners.
Arsenal’s poor form of late means the Cityzens are close favorites going into the match at the Etihad Stadium. However, the Catalan will not be in the full squad due to the absence of experienced central defender Ruben Díaz due to injury.
He missed the recent 3-0 win away to Chelsea with an ankle injury sustained before the game. Guardiola and City fans will be disappointed to miss Dias, but will be thrilled to see O’Reilly recover from the bruise he sustained in west London.
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The 21-year-old has emerged as one of City’s most important players this season. As well as impressing with his defensive performances, he also contributed to a number of important goals, entering the penalty area from left-back.
Most importantly, he scored an incredible brace against Chelsea in this weekend’s League Cup final and also headed in the opening goal against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. When asked about his team’s injury situation, Guardiola said: “Ruben is not ready yet, but Nico is fine.”
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O’Reilly’s performances caught the attention of England manager Thomas Tuchel, who called him up to his last two Three Lions squads. The former Chelsea manager even said O’Reilly made a “fantastic” England debut, starting in the 2-0 home win against Serbia in November.
But no one spoke more highly of O’Reilly than Guardiola himself. When O’Reilly was named man of the match in City’s 2-1 away win over Newcastle in February, Guardiola said: “He has played at full-back and when Rodri is not there he has played as a holding midfielder and now he is in that position.”
“I know his pace. He’s a great player. He’s made an unbelievable step up and put in a lot of minutes. But he deserves it.”
O’Reilly scores the decisive header against Chelsea (Image: 2026 Catherine Ivill – AMA)
Guardiola will be hoping for a similarly decisive performance from O’Reilly. City are six points behind Arsenal but also have an important game against the North Londoners coming up.
O’Reilly’s presence could be especially important given City’s many injuries on the defensive line. In addition to Dias, who has been out for a month with an ankle injury, Josko Gvardiol is also still missing.
The Croatian international has been out of action since breaking his foot in January’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea. John Stones is also known to be absent due to a calf injury.
That means Marc Gehi and Abdukkodir Kusanov, who joined in January, are likely to lead the Cityzens’ back four against the Gunners.
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