Arsenal may have been handed a potential boost in their chances of winning the Premier League title this season, as Manchester City suffer another potentially crucial injury setback.
18:49, 04 Jan 2026Updated 19:16, 04 Jan 2026
Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, reacts during the Premier League match between Sunderland and Manchester City
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Pep Guardiola has been handed a fresh injury problem with his Manchester City side(Image: (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images))
Manchester City have been handed a potentially crucial blow in their bid for the Premier League title, as key defender Josko Gvardiol came off early in the second half during their clash with Chelsea. It comes as Pep Guardiola's side once again seem to be the closest challengers to Arsenal and Mikel Arteta for the league.
The Gunners lead the way with 48 points after 20 Premier League matches, picking up five wins in a row after a rocky spell before the New Year. Their latest win, a 3-2 triumph over Bournemouth, put the onus back on Man City to get a result to keep up the pressure at the top.
That came up against a Chelsea side in some form of turmoil, entering the match without a manager following Enzo Maresca's exit. The Blues have been out of form since their impressive draw against Arsenal, but the Gunners needed their London rivals to do them an unlikely favour.
Calum McFarlane, the Chelsea interim manager, made five changes to the team for the trip to the Etihad Stadium, which saw them setup on the backfoot. A goal from Tijjani Reijnders just before half-time made the challenge even tougher for the visitors, after feeling the pressure throughout.
There was a blow for the hosts just after the break, however, when Gvardiol landed awkwardly on his ankle, following a coming together in the middle of the park. The Croatian defender stayed on the ground, before the Man City medical team could give him treatment, deeming him unable to continue.
Gvardiol had to be helped off the pitch by one of the physios, along with Chelsea star Reece James, as he hobbled his way back to the bench. It wasn't an encouraging sign for Guardiola or Man City, as they prepare for another important run of fixtures ahead of them.
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Manchester City's Croatian defender #24 Josko Gvardiol (C) speaks with Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola after picking up an injury during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on January 4, 2026. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /(Image: (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP via Getty Images))
Clashes with Brighton and Manchester United await them in the Premier League, while their fixture list is starting to pile up in front of them. Cup games with Exeter City, Newcastle and Bodo/Glimt provide the manager with a challenge in rotating his side while continuing to pick up results.
It's a test Arteta has already faced this season, with injuries piling up in almost every department for his Arsenal squad. Fortunately for the manager, his struggles through the previous campaign meant that the summer was spent insulating his squad with quality in depth.
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That has helped the Gunners get through some tough periods this season so far, and there is now hope that the end of those issues is now in sight. Just three injury concerns remain, as Cristhian Mosquera, Riccardo Calafiori, and Max Dowman remain sidelined for the current leaders.
“The first thing reaction is what can we do better?" Arteta recently told the press, when asked about the injury issues. "The second thing is the reality of the sport that we play. But looking back in the last three seasons, we have had less days of injuries than before. So, it’s how you look at it.”
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