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‘Good news’ for Arsenal fans as Manchester City’s star defender is set to miss their crucial showdown
Arsenal fans may have reasons to celebrate as Manchester City’s star defender Nathan Ake is set to miss their crucial Premier League title clash on Wednesday.
National Daily learnt that the Netherlands international who has been in impressive form this season suffered a hamstring injury in his side’s Champions League second leg clash with Bayern Munich last Wednesday.
The 28-year-old Dutchman missed Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final win over Sheffield United with Pep Guardiola shifting to a 3-4-3 formation with no recognised left-back in his side.
City host Arsenal in perhaps the biggest game of the Premier League season this week with five points separating the two sides ahead of kick-off with Pep Guardiola’s side holding two games in hand.
Ake is set to miss the crucial Premier League showdown against Arsenal on Wednesday
Ake however will not be involved and also remains a doubt for the first leg of City’s Champions League semi-final clash with Real Madrid next week.
‘Hopefully he can come back soon but for tomorrow he is out,’ Guardiola told a press conference on Tuesday. ‘I don’t know about Madrid,’ he added. ‘Yeah [it’s a blow] but we will find the right player to do it.’
Arsenal have dropped points in their last three games, drawing away to Liverpool and West Ham United before last Friday’s 3-3 with Southampton at the Emirates.
City have been playing catch-up on the Gunners for the entire season with Guardiola describing Mikel Arteta’s side as ‘unstoppable’ in the first-half of the campaign.
But the defending champions can strike a significant blow to Arsenal’s chances of ending their wait for silverware with victory on Wednesday.
‘I didn’t think we made a bad season, where we dropped a lot of games. The problem was that Arsenal were unstoppable, they made 50 points in one round [first half of the season],’ Guardiola said.
‘When this happens then hats off,” the Catalan said. “But we didn’t drop much compared to the previous seasons.
‘At the end we have been consistent, kept believing and now this is the situation. At home, where we are comfortable, with our people.
‘I know everyone will be there. And we will feel them. Hopefully our football can help them feel it more and more and after our players will do their best.’