Manchester City fans will notice the absence of goalkeeper Ederson in Pep Guardiola’s squad for their upcoming match against Arsenal this Sunday.
Despite playing a full part in City’s Champions League victory over Club Brugge earlier this week, Ederson will not be in the lineup.
In his place, Stefan Ortega will start as the goalkeeper, while veteran Scott Carson takes a spot on the bench.
It’s unclear why Ederson has been left out, but any potential injury to the Brazilian could raise concerns for Guardiola, especially given the number of injuries City has already faced this season.
City’s Lineup and Key Players
Ederson’s absence is just one piece of the puzzle for Manchester City, who have struggled with injuries to key players throughout the season.
In defense, John Stones, Manuel Akanji, and Josko Gvardiol will make up the center-back trio, though Gvardiol might be shifted to left-back due to the inclusion of Matheus Nunes in midfield.
Mateo Kovacic will partner with captain Bernardo Silva in the middle of the park.
The attacking trio of Savinho, Omar Marmoush, and Phil Foden will line up alongside star striker Erling Haaland, looking to provide plenty of support in what promises to be a high-stakes match against the Gunners.
Arsenal’s Injury Situation and Starting XI
Arsenal will be relieved to have avoided any injury trouble of their own, particularly in goal. David Raya is fit to start after missing their midweek Champions League clash against Girona.
Defenders Myles Lewis-Skelly, Jurrien Timber, and William Saliba will be back in the lineup, while Declan Rice, Gabriel Martinelli, and Kai Havertz also make the starting XI after featuring as substitutes during the midweek game.
This clash between the two teams, which will take place at the Emirates, continues to fuel what has become a fierce rivalry between Mikel Arteta and his former employers.
A Fiery Rivalry with Controversial Moments
The rivalry between Arsenal and Manchester City has only heated up in recent encounters, with both teams involved in some highly controversial moments.
In the reverse fixture in September, Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard was controversially shown a second yellow card for kicking the ball away just before halftime.
Down to 10 men, Arsenal managed to hold off City until the dying seconds of the match when John Stones scored a dramatic equalizer in the 98th minute.
The previous season’s corresponding match also saw its fair share of drama, as Mateo Kovacic narrowly avoided a red card for a late challenge on Declan Rice.
Then, in their most recent Premier League match against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Arsenal players were outraged after Myles Lewis-Skelly was shown a red card for a foul on Matt Doherty.
The decision was later overturned, but it added to the growing tensions surrounding Arsenal’s relationship with officials.
FA Charges Arsenal Following Controversial Incident
After Lewis-Skelly’s red card, Arsenal was charged by the FA for failing to control their players when they surrounded referee Michael Oliver to protest the decision.
The FA has given Arsenal until Monday, February 3, to respond to the charge.
The incident sparked anger from Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, who criticized the decision as “one of the worst I’ve seen in a long time.”
With emotions running high, this upcoming Arsenal vs. Manchester City clash promises to be just as thrilling and dramatic as their previous encounters.
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