Arsenal received an update on Kevin De Bruyne’s injury status as Pep Guardiola evaluates the midfielder’s availability for Manchester City’s upcoming Premier League clash with Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday at 4:30 pm.
Despite picking up an injury during City’s midweek Champions League match against Inter Milan, De Bruyne may still feature in Sunday’s game. The 33-year-old Belgian captain had to be substituted at halftime in the goalless draw, but further evaluations have not ruled him out of the Arsenal encounter.
Guardiola shared in a pre-match interview, “He’s feeling slightly better today, but we haven’t had training yet. We’ll see how he is then. He might play.”
If De Bruyne is sidelined, he will join City teammates Oscar Bobb and Nathan Ake on the injury list. Bobb sustained a leg injury prior to the start of the season, while Ake has been out since suffering a hamstring injury in September.
Guardiola also provided an update on Phil Foden, who replaced De Bruyne against Inter. Foden is now fit for a full match after a disrupted start to the season. Guardiola praised the midfielder, saying, “He played well for 45 minutes in the last game. He was our best player last season and is capable of competing with the other midfielders. His pressing and movement in tight spaces make him one of the best, and we’re glad he’s back.”
On the Arsenal front, Mikel Arteta will be relieved that none of his players picked up injuries during Thursday’s match against Atalanta, although the absence of Martin Odegaard remains a significant challenge for the team.
