Arsenal are missing as many as 13 of Mikel Arteta's players, whereas Manchester City boast an almost fully fit squad before the Premier League title race resumes
Arsenal have an injury list of over a dozen players after 13 squad members seemingly did not train on Friday.
A whole line-up and more were absent from training ground photographs a day before their FA Cup quarter-final against Southampton. Many of those missing also withdrew from international duty over the last fortnight.
Mikel Merino is one who did not and remains Arsenal's sole long-term absentee, and he appears unlikely to play any part in their remaining matches this season. The Spain international looks set for a comeback in June, so he could be in contention to represent his nation at the World Cup.
The remaining 11 are due to return at some point during April. Eberechi Eze appears to be the most seriously affected of that group, and a calf injury leaves him in a race against time to be available for Arsenal's trip to the Etihad Stadium on 19 April.
Mikel Arteta has ruled Noni Madueke and Piero Hincapie out of at least the FA Cup quarter-final against Southampton. They both sustained injuries while on international duty with their respective nations.
READ MORE: Arsenal handed Premier League title race twist as key player banned for Man City clashREAD MORE: 13 Arsenal players missing from training pictures after Mikel Arteta injury updatesArteta has described Hincapie's hamstring problem as serious; however, he believes Madueke's knee complaint will sideline him for only a matter of days. The winger could return for the Champions League quarter-final first leg against Sporting, or, if not, for the Premier League clash with Bournemouth.
Arteta also confirmed that Jurrien Timber and Martin Odegaard are in the frame to face Southampton. They continue their recoveries from groin and knee injuries, respectively, but both were absent from training.
The remaining six senior players unavailable were Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Gabriel Magalhaes, Leandro Trossard, Martin Zubimendi and William Saliba. All of them withdrew from their international squads due to injury.
Saliba was absent from the France squad due to an ankle problem, while fellow centre-back Gabriel also missed Brazil duty after reporting a knee complaint. Trossard, meanwhile, was unable to represent Belgium due to a hip injury.
Rice and Saka both linked up with England belatedly before withdrawing with knocks, while Zubimendi pulled out of the Spain squad with a knee problem after appearing in their opening friendly. Marli Salmon also did not appear to train on Friday.
City's casualty list looks remarkably modest compared to Arsenal's. They could boast a near fully-fit squad when their Premier League title challenge resumes against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Josko Gvardiol remains their sole long-term injury concern after fracturing his right tibia three months ago. Croatian publication Sportske Novosti reports that he is due to return in May, potentially in time for City's final fixtures of the campaign and this summer's World Cup.
John Stones and Ruben Dias are Pep Guardiola's only remaining fitness doubts. Dias missed the Carabao Cup final triumph with a hamstring complaint, while Stones picked up a minor calf injury while on England duty.
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