Man City defender ruled out of Arsenal game in major injury blow

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Manchester City will be at least two defenders down when they take on Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday as Pep Guardiola manages his squad.

Manchester City have been dealt an injury blow ahead of their crunch Premier League meeting with Arsenal at the weekend as Ruben Dias will not be ready to return. The vice-captain suffered an ankle injury last month and is not likely to be back for the rest of the month.

Pep Guardiola may give an update on when Dias can be expected to be back when he speaks to reporters on Friday lunchtime, but City will have to make do without their vice-captain in the meantime. Nathan Ake partnered Abdukodir Khusanov against Arsenal at Wembley in the League Cup final and then Marc Guehi stepped in for Ake for the Liverpool and Chelsea matches.

Pep Guardiola will likely turn to that pair again but has some thinking to do as City look to take the initiative in the title race. With Dias joining Josko Gvardiol on the sidelines and doubts over the fitness of John Stones, the Blues could have just three senior centre-backs for two games coming up in the next four days that could make their season.

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City welcome an Arsenal team that are struggling to hold onto their season. Defeat in the Carabao Cup final was followed by a shock FA Cup exit at the hands of Championship side Southampton and then a home defeat to Bournemouth in the Premier League that has opened the door for their nearest rivals.

If the Blues are able to beat Arsenal at the Etihad on Sunday, they will have the chance to go top of the table for the first time in months when they head to Burnley on Wednesday. While City's game in hand in the title race is against Palace and will not be played until the final weeks of the season, their match with the Clarets has been moved forward owing to City's FA Cup semi-final with Southampton next weekend.

Arsenal face Newcastle at home next week in the Premier League on Saturday teatime when City are playing Southampton in what could be another decisive day in deciding where the three trophies in England are going to end up.