Pep Guardiola's nightmare international break leaves Man City preparations vs Arsenal in tatters

Pep Guardiola's final message to his players as they departed for the international break was clear: don't get injured.

That is a familiar instruction from the Manchester City boss, but this time there was a twist. With all countries playing friendlies, Guardiola inferred that players should be sensible over their workload during the international break, pointing to the relentless schedule across three competitions that awaits them when they return.

He even told Erling Haaland that he'd 'come after' him if he came back with an injury, so he will have been relieved that footage of the striker limping in training was not a serious issue and that he ended up starting two games. "He's not my player anymore," Guardiola said of Haaland and whether he would have preferred he didn't play this week. It wasn't Haaland he needed to worry about.

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First there was Kyle Walker, who tried to battle on but ultimately hobbled out of England's defeat to Brazil. Gareth Southgate said he didn't know the extent of the injury but expressed concern that Walker is a player who is rarely injured, while Walker himself posted a message saying that he hoped the issue wasn't too serious.

Reports suggest the injury is not as bad as first feared, but he will be assessed upon his return to the City Football Academy this week. He is not a player worth risking a premature return, and despite the importance of the Arsenal game, getting Walker fit for Real Madrid, if possible, has to be the priority.

If Walker is missing, then the plan B would