Kevin De Bruyne will not feature for Manchester City against Arsenal on Saturday, having sustained an injury whilst on international duty with Belgium.
Kevin De Bruyne to Be Absent From Arsenal Clash This Weekend
Injury Length Unclear
De Bruyne sustained a muscle injury during Belgium’s 2-1 loss to England at Wembley last weekend, which will see him sidelined for Saturday’s clash at home to Arsenal.
Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of the game, Pep Guardiola confirmed he will be absent for their upcoming match against the Gunners. While he does not think the injury is serious, he could not confirm how long he expected De Bruyne to be out for.
The Belgian’s absence will be a blow to Guardiola’s men, who will be hoping to bounce back quickly from the 5-2 defeat they suffered at home to Leicester City before the international break.
The Citizens have had a surprisingly slow start to the 2020/21 season, with a victory, a draw and a loss in their opening three games of the new campaign.
Defensive Issues Need to Be Addressed
Conceding five goals in their previous game is a reminder of their recent troubles at the back. Therefore, the prospect of coming up against Arsenal talisman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who scored when the sides last met in the FA Cup semi-final, appears to be a daunting one.
The creative threat of De Bruyne, who tied the record for the most Premier League assists in a season in 2019/20, will come as welcome news to Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta’s have not won a game away from home against a ‘big six’ club since they beat City 2-0 at Etihad Stadium in January 2015, when Arteta was still playing for the club.
With De Bruyne out and Sergio Aguero not yet fit enough to play as he recovers from a long-term knee injury, Arsenal may fancy their chances of ending this rotten run against rival teams away from home.
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