Manchester City have been dealt a serious blow ahead of their crucial top-of-the-table clash with Arsenal next week as key defender Nathan Ake was substituted off in the second half of their Champions League quarter-final second-leg tie against Bayern Munich.
Ake has made himself integral to Pep Guardiola's system as a centre-back and left-back on occasion but was forced off with what appeared to be a damaging hamstring injury in Germany. With City 1-0 up on the night and 4-0 up on aggregate, it is a massive blow for the Spanish manager.
City host Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, April 26 knowing that the game may well decide which side wins the title. Arsenal could be seven points clear heading into the game should they defeat Southampton on Friday but that could massively change.
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By the time that game kicks off the Gunners will have played two games more than their hosts and know that City could go two points clear should they win their remaining games and win against Mikel Arteta's men.
Arsenal have their own injury concerns ahead of the big title 'decider'. Read all about them here.
The former City assistant himself knows how it feels to be without key players having been working with a depleted backline in recent weeks. William Saliba is still out of action after his setback suffered against Sporting CP last month whereas Oleksandr Zinchenko missed the weekend's draw with West Ham with a knock too.
Ake's injury upset what was otherwise a perfect night for City with Erling Haaland putting his side ahead on the night but the jubilation was slightly cut short as Ake limped off the pitch minutes later.
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