Manchester City are pretty much out of the Premier League title race already, but even if they were much closer than the 14 points which separates them from league leaders Liverpool, they would have another major obstacle in their way- severe injury issues.
David Silva is the latest fitness concern as he was missing from training. Pep Guardiola said the Spaniard is questionable for Sunday’s match at Arsenal, having taken a “huge kick” in the home Manchester derby loss to United. He missed out on the lopsided midweek Champions League win over Dinamo Zagreb, but he might not have played anyway, given how inconsequential that match was. He faces a late fitness test in this one while John Stones is definitely out.
It will be “a few weeks” on the sidelines, says manager Pep Guardiola, for Englishman who suffered another muscular injury last weekend in the derby. Meanwhile all time leading scorer Sergio Aguero is still a ways away yet as he’s yet to return to training.
Aymeric Laporte and Leroy Sane remain long term injury absentees. So that all said, here’s what we’re going with in our predicted XI for City.
Manchester City starting XI prediction at Arsenal FC
Mahrez Jesus Sterling
Gundogan Rodri De Bruyne
Walker Fernandinho Otamendi Angelino
Ederson
Manchester City at Arsenal FC FYIs
Arsenal team news, starting XI prediction: go to this link
Kickoff: Emirates Stadium, Sunday December 15th, 4:30pm
Google Result Probability: Manchester City win 68%, Draw 17%, Arsenal FC win 15%
Form Guide: Manchester City LWDWL Arsenal FC WLDDL
Prediction: Manchester City 4, Arsenal 2
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
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