For the first time this season, Arsenal’s excellent campaign faces uncertainty.
To add injury to insult, midfielder Thomas Partey was withdrawn in the first half with an apparent injury.
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Manager Mikel Arteta confirmed afterwards that Partey was suffering.
He said: “He had some discomfort and it was getting worse and worse. He was uncomfortable to continue. (Saturday) or the day after he will have an MRI scan and see what he has.”
Should Partey be unavailable for a long spell, it would be a significant blow to the Gunners’ Premier League title hopes.
The 29-year-old has started 16 games in the league this season – of which they have won every single one – and is a vital part of league-leading Arsenal’s team.
Arteta admitted as much after the Manchester City match, observing the impact of his absence.
He said: “It is true Thomas is a big influence and a big personality and in the second half we didn’t have him.”
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The timing of the injury is not ideal in another sense, given that fellow Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny faces a long period on the sidelines following an injury suffered in training.
Arteta had already hinted at moving for midfield cover in the January transfer window following Elneny’s injury, and will surely now only be more motivated to move for reinforcements.
Before Friday’s match, Arteta said: “We need some more cover in midfield ideally if we can. In this market it’s pretty complicated to do that. The most important thing is that we get the performances and the time on the pitch that we need with the players we have available today that are already really good.”
Arsenal’s reported push for Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo fits the bill of a player who could both provide cover and compete for a starting place if and when the injured players return.
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