Arsenal make the trip to Manchester City in a Premier League title showdown on Sunday and the Gunners have learnt about an injury blow to Pep Guardiola's side
10:32, 17 Apr 2026Updated 10:52, 17 Apr 2026
Ruben Dias of Manchester City
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Ruben Dias is set to miss Manchester City's clash against Arsenal on Sunday(Image: Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
Manchester City have been dealt a huge injury blow with Ruben Dias once again ruled out ahead of Sunday's mouthwatering Premier League clash against Arsenal.
The Gunners make the trip to the Etihad Stadium looking to bounce back following a goalless draw against Sporting CP in midweek and last Saturday's 2-1 home defeat to Bournemouth.
But a win in Manchester would move Mikel Arteta's side nine points clear at the top of the table with five matches remaining. It would put the Gunners in a commanding position in the title race and all-but secure them their first top flight in 22 years.
And Arsenal's hopes of getting their hands on the Premier League title have been boosted with Dias not expected to return to action for the visit of the Gunners.
Dias, who hasn't featured for City since the defeat to Real Madrid in mid-March, is not poised to be back in action until the start of next month after suffering an ankle injury.
Manchester City defender Ruben Dias in action during the Champions League tie with Real Madrid
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Ruben Dias is out injured for Manchester City
Nathan Ake partnered Abdukodir Khusanov for the Carabao Cup final win against Arsenal, but Marc Guehi has stepped back in for the Dutchman after he was unable to feature at Wembley.
Guehi and Khusanov have kept back-to-back clean sheets against Liverpool and Chelsea since the turn of the international break. As a result, they are set to partner each-other once more for the visit of Arsenal, with Guardiola's decision practically made for him.
But with Dias, Josko Gvardiol and John Stones all unavailable, Guardiola has a mini centre-back injury crisis to contend with for at least the next two weeks. That could impact City's Premier League title hopes with matches against Arsenal and Burnley to come before an FA Cup semi-final against Southampton.
Arsenal, meanwhile, suffered an injury setback of their own on Wednesday after Noni Madueke hobbled off with a suspected knee problem during the 0-0 draw to Sporting.
Madueke went down requiring treatment on the hour mark before it soon became clear he couldn't continue. Footage captured on TV showed the England international needing assistance as he limped off the pitch and was replaced by teenage sensation Max Dowman.
Arteta was asked about Madueke in his post-match press conference and gave a blunt response. "I don't know, it was something in his knee, so we had to take him off, so I don't know," Arteta said on the ex-Chelsea man.
With City to come on Sunday, the last thing Arteta needed was another injury to contend with. Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber haven't featured for the Gunners since the turn of the international break, while Martin Odegaard has missed the last two matches.
When pressed for an update on Saka and Timber before the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Sporting, Arteta said: "Maybe one of them [will be available], let's see."
Mikel Merino is still a long-term absentee for the Gunners after injuring his foot in January. Riccardo Calafiori is pushing for a return to face City, while Declan Rice played the full game against Sporting despite missing training just a day before the second leg at the Emirates Stadium.
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