Four Arsenal players miss training as they prepare to resume title race with Man City

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Arsenal will travel to Manchester City in a potential title-deciding clash at the Etihad Stadium in under two weeks' time.

Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka was one of four players missing from Arsenal training on Monday as the Gunners gear up for the run-in and their title race with Manchester City. The England international left Thomas Tuchel's camp early due to an unknown issue and Mikel Arteta is currently managing his minutes.

Saka did not feature against Southampton at the weekend and was not spotted in training ahead of the Gunners' trip to Sporting in the Champions League tomorrow night. Declan Rice, who also left the England camp early and did not feature in the FA Cup on Saturday, did return to training at the Sobha Realty Training Centre.

Eberechi Eze was absent again after picking up a calf problem prior to the Carabao Cup final defeat last month. As was Jurrien Timber, despite Arsenal hoping the duo would be fit for their quarter-final first leg. Defender Piero Hincapie is a long-term absentee after he picked up an injury with the Ecuador national team in March.

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Gabriel Magalhães did train on Monday. The Brazil defender requested to be substituted during the defeat to Southampton and Arteta was concerned about his fitness, but it appears his injury is not serious.

Leandro Trossard was the other returning player as he overcame an unknown issue to feature in training. While the Gunners sweat over the fitness of their stars, City are in relatively good shape. Pep Guardiola's men are currently without Josko Gvardiol, but Pep Lijnders provided a positive update on Ruben Dias and John Stones in his post-match press conference on Saturday.

"Ruben got a knock in the last few minutes of training," he explained. "We are assessing it. I think he has a scan so we will have to see. John will not be long-term, I think, but he was not available for today."

City sit nine points behind Arsenal in the Premier League table but have a game in hand on the Gunners. The two teams will meet at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, April 19.