City’s defensive corps dwindles to just five fit players after latest injury setback in draw with Arsenal

Pep Guardiola is facing increased concerns about squad fitness following their first match back after the final international break of the season.

Manchester City recently played to a 0-0 draw against Premier League rivals Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium, with Guardiola having to adjust his tactics due to the absence of two key defensive players.

Kyle Walker and John Stones both suffered injuries during their international matches, with Walker injuring his hamstring in a match against Brazil and Stones dealing with an adductor issue while playing against Belgium.

With a busy schedule ahead, including FA Cup and Champions League matches, City will need to manage without these two players who are not yet fully fit. In addition, Nathan Ake also sustained a calf injury in the match against Arsenal, further depleting Guardiola’s defensive options.

For the upcoming match against Aston Villa, Guardiola will have to make do with a limited number of defenders, including Lewis, Ruben Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol, and Gomez.

Despite the injury setbacks, City will need to quickly regroup and prepare for their next match against Aston Villa, who have already proven to be a challenging opponent for them earlier in the season.