On 19 April, Manchester City will host Premier League leaders Arsenal at their home ground. A victory in this clash could allow Pep Guardiola’s side to draw level with the London club on points.
Ahead of such an important match, serious squad issues have started to emerge in Arsenal’s camp. According to the latest training reports, five players — Riccardo Calafiori, Martin Ødegaard, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, and Jurrien Timber — did not take part in full team training, which has raised concerns.
The most unexpected absence was Declan Rice, who had recently played the full match in which Arsenal lost 1–2 at home to Bournemouth.
Bukayo Saka has missed the last three matches due to a muscle injury, while team captain Martin Ødegaard is not playing because of a knee problem. Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori are also still not fully recovered.
If these players do not recover by 19 April, Manchester City’s advantage could increase significantly. This could noticeably shift the balance of power ahead of one of the most decisive matches of the season.
