As Arsenal prepares for a crucial Premier League showdown against Manchester City, uncertainty surrounds the fitness of their first-choice goalkeeper, David Raya.
The Spaniard was absent midweek during Arsenal’s clash with Girona, and manager Mikel Arteta remained guarded when addressing Raya’s condition on Friday.
Arteta admitted doubt over whether Raya would recover in time for the heavyweight fixture against the reigning champions, leaving supporters anxiously awaiting further news.
The Gunners received a lift midweek as Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino made their returns to the pitch. Odegaard had been sidelined due to illness, while Merino was dealing with a minor setback. However, both midfielders rejoined training ahead of the Girona encounter and played the full 90 minutes in Arsenal’s hard-fought 2-1 victory on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, young prospect Myles Lewis-Skelly, who received a controversial red card during Arsenal’s clash with Wolves, was initially set to serve a three-match suspension. However, following a successful appeal, the ban was overturned, making him available for selection. With the teenager in contention to retain his place, Riccardo Calafiori is also an option for the left-back role.
Defender Ben White is making progress in his recovery but has yet to resume first-team training. Arsenal will also be missing key players Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, and Takehiro Tomiyasu, who remain sidelined through injury.
After a testing end to 2024, City has rediscovered their form, securing four wins in their last five league fixtures. As they prepare for their trip to North London, manager Pep Guardiola provided updates on his squad’s availability.
Oscar Bobb is edging closer to a return following a lengthy layoff, though the upcoming clash may come too soon for him. Jeremy Doku, who has missed the past three matches, remains unavailable. Additionally, Ruben Dias, who picked up an injury in City’s Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, remains sidelined, with no clear timeframe for his return.
Nathan Ake, restricted to just seven league starts this season, will also be absent. However, Guardiola confirmed that John Stones is fit and ready to feature following his recent injury struggles.
Projected Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Martinelli, Havertz, Trossard.
Projected Manchester City XI: Ederson; Nunes, Stones, Akanji, Gvardiol; Silva, Kovacic, De Bruyne; Foden, Haaland, Marmoush.
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