Nigel Reo-Coker has highlighted one disadvantage that Manchester City will have for their upcoming Premier League clash against Arsenal.
With the Blues now set to return to Premier League action following the latest international break, they face a tough test against league leaders Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium.
Even though the Citizens have won 10 of their 14 home games in the league throughout this campaign, one pundit and former top-flight player reckons the Treble winners will be heading into this game with a significant disadvantage.
Reo-Coker highlights City disadvantage ahead of Arsenal
Speaking in a recent edition of the BBC’s Football Daily podcast, Reo-Coker had this to say on the matter.
He said: “I think this game is really in favour of Arsenal especially when you look at the injuries that Manchester City have with no Kyle Walker and no John Stones.
“For me, Kyle Walker is obviously someone that I played with and I know how influential he can be especially for this Manchester City side. I think that’s going to be a big loss.”
During Pep Guardiola’s recent press conference, the City boss revealed that Walker and Stones will miss Sunday’s clash after the duo picked up injuries while in action for England during the recent international break.
Focusing on Walker, as Reo-Coker mentioned, the right-back has been a prominent figure in City’s team this season, starting 25 of the 26 Premier League games he’s featured in.
Across those league games, the 33-year-old has racked up the joint-second-highest combined total of tackles and interceptions (50) in the City squad and made more crosses into the penalty area (11) than any of his teammates.
This highlights how important the City captain has been for his team this season from a defensive and attacking perspective and why he’ll be a big loss for them on Sunday.
Moving forward, Guardiola and his coaching staff will have to come up with a way that his side can deal with the absence of Walker and Stones and beat Arsenal so they can take a big step towards potentially regaining the Premier League title.