Manchester City suffered an injury setback ahead of this weekend’s crucial Premier League match against Arsenal, with Ruben Dias unavailable for selection. The vice-captain suffered an ankle injury last month and is likely to be out for the rest of April.
Manager Josep Guardiola may provide an update on Dias’ expected return when he meets reporters at lunchtime on Friday, but until then City will be forced to operate without their defensive leader. In the Carabao Cup final, Nathan Ake teamed up with Abdukkodir Kusanov against Arsenal at Wembley, while Ake was replaced by Marc Gehi in the matches against Liverpool and Chelsea.
Pep Guardiola is likely to call upon the duo again, but they face a major selection headache as City look to take control of the title race.
With Dias joining Josko Gvardiol on the treatment table and uncertainty surrounding John Stones’ fitness, the Blues could find themselves with just three senior centre-backs for two crucial games over the next four days that could decide the entire season.
City host Arsenal, who will be desperately trying to maintain their form. Immediately after defeat in the Carabao Cup final, a humiliating defeat to Southampton in the Championship in the FA Cup and a further home defeat to Bournemouth in the Premier League left the door wide open for their closest rivals.
If the Blues can beat Arsenal at the Etihad on Sunday, they will have a chance to move back into the top flight for the first time in months when they travel to Burnley on Wednesday.
City’s game in the title race, against Palace, will not take place until the final weeks of the season, but the match against the Clarets has been brought forward to accommodate City’s FA Cup semi-final against Southampton next weekend.
Arsenal play Newcastle at home next Saturday, while City face Southampton, a game that could be another big day in determining the fate of England’s big three titles.
