Man City team vs Arsenal if Pep Guardiola's injury nightmare comes true

It's safe to say that the international break hasn't gone to plan for Pep Guardiola.

Injuries to Kyle Walker, John Stones and Manu Akanji have thrown a spanner the size of the Etihad in the works as Manchester City prepare for one of their biggest games of the season. Instead of having a full squad on Thursday ahead of Arsenal's visit in the Premier League, at least two of the three defenders that would have been bang in contention to start on Sunday will be having scans on issues picked up with their national teams.

City have history of risking players with injury in big games but there's nothing they can do about it if none of the three doubts can come through. There will be few violins for one of the richest squads in the world and - just as in the reverse game where Guardiola had to make do without Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne - the manager has to do the best he can to overcome the problems.

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From a defensive point of view, a lot of the onus will fall on one of their most expensive signings and a freebie. Guardiola has barely used Rico Lewis in 2024, yet the academy graduate is surely the best bet at right-back.

Then there is Josko Gvardiol, a commanding young centre-back signed for £77.5m but who has been used almost exclusively at left-back at City. He will surely play alongside Lewis, Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake, although it may make more sense to play Ake wide to deal with Bukayo Saka and have Gvardiol in his favoured and more natural position.

Kevin De Bruyne is expected to be fit and has shown before this season that he can make an instant impact, so he