Arsenal host Manchester City in a huge clash in the Premier League next weekend, and the visitors have received a significant blow ahead of the showdown at the Emirates.
Bukayo Saka will miss the match after undergoing hamstring surgery in December, while Rodri and Gabriel Jesus are both out with ACL injuries.
The Gunners are also likely to be without Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ben White, although Mikel Arteta confirmed that William Saliba will be available for the game.
Arteta’s team are currently six points behind league leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand, while they’re six points above City, making next weekend’s encounter with Pep Guardiola’s side hugely important.
Pep Guardiola issues double injury update ahead of Arsenal clash
While Arsenal’s injury list is extensive, City’s squad isn’t in perfect shape either.
The Sky Blues have suffered a significant dip in form since losing Rodri back in September, while further injury issues have compounded their problems.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference head of his team’s game against Chelsea on Saturday evening, Guardiola confirmed that Ruben Dias will miss the trip to N5, while Jeremy Doku is a doubt.
“Ruben [Dias] and [Jeremy] Doky are out. The other players are [still] out,” he said.
“[Dias’ issue is with his] abductor. I don’t know [his recovery time] yet. He’s been stable and always able to play a lot of games, but this season it is what it is.”
According to Premier Injuries, Dias is expected to return to action on 8th February, six days after the game against Arsenal.
Meanwhile, Doku’s return date is less certain, and whether he travels to Islington will likely be touch and go.
How Jeremey Doku’s potential absence could change Mikel Arteta’s approach
Doku is renowned for his one-on-one dribbling ability, and while his output isn’t always consistent, he’s certainly a threat when isolated in space with a full-back.
His availability, or lack of, could impact which full-backs Arteta selects, and how aggressively he deploys them.
While Jurrien Timber is a one-on-one specialist and is always front-footed and aggressive, some of Arsenal’s other full-backs don’t fit that mould.
Riccardo Calafiori’s defensive capabilities have been questioned in the past, with the Italian often struggling to defend wide areas against agile and tricky wingers.
However, with Doku potentially out, Arteta may opt for the former Bologna man, to benefit from his crisp passing and adventurous bursts forward.
Essentially, Doku’s absence could prompt the Spanish tactician to be less conservative and spark a more open and appetising game for the neutral.
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