Manchester City will have to cope without two key defenders for Sunday's Premier League title showdown with table-toppers Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium.
The Citizens have not lost a top-flight game since December, but the reigning champions currently sit third in the table, just one point behind both second-placed Liverpool and leaders Arsenal, who sit pretty at the summit by virtue of a superior goal difference.
Just like every other club, Man City were hoping to see their first-team stars return from the international break unscathed as they prepare for a hectic fixture schedule across three different competitions heading down the home straight.
However, manager Pep Guardiola confirmed at a press conference on Friday that both Kyle Walker and John Stones are ruled out of Sunday's clash with Arsenal after sustaining injuries on England duty.
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Walker was captaining the Three Lions when he was forced off with a hamstring problem in the 19th minute of a 1-0 friendly defeat to Brazil at Wembley Stadium.
Stones, meanwhile, played the full 90 minutes against the South American giants, but he lasted for just 10 minutes in Tuesday's 2-2 draw with Belgium after he limped off with a groin problem.
Both Walker and Stones have been two integral cogs in Guardiola's machine over the years and would have been expected to start in defence against Arsenal, but the Catalan coach will now ponder who he will select to fill the two large voids left by the England pair.
Here, Sports Mole takes a closer look at which Man City players could be called upon by Guardiola to start against Arsenal at the expense of both Walker and Stones.
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Walker has established himself as the undisputed right-sided defender at Man City this season having started 25 of the club's 28 Premier League matches, either as a right-back or on the right side of a back three.
The 33-year-old's athleticism and speed has made him an invaluable asset for Guardiola in defence, but the City boss will have to rely on a different profile of defender to operate on the right side on Sunday.
Stones, meanwhile, has elevated his game to new heights in recent seasons whilst operating as a ball-playing central defender that drifts into midfield and joins in with the attacks, popping up on occasions in the opposition's box.
A four-man defence, with one of those four moving into midfield alongside lynchpin Rodri when in possession, could still be a tactic deployed by Guardiola on Sunday despite the absences of Walker and Stones, as the Catalan coach will feel that he still has players among his talented group who can step up.
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Rico Lewis, Manuel Akanji in contention to start for Man City?
One of those is academy graduate Rico Lewis, who is the only other natural right-back option available to Guardiola. The 19-year-old will relish the opportunity to showcase his talent on Sunday should he be selected to start.
Lewis, who was a late call-up to the England squad last week, has already made 44 senior appearances for the Citizens since and including his debut in August 2022, including 21 outings in all competitions so far this season.
Only five of those appearances have been starts in the Premier League, but one was interestingly against Arsenal in the reverse fixture five months ago, a game which the Gunners won 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium. With Rodri suspended and Stones only fit to make the bench following a spell out through injury, Guardiola decided to start Lewis in midfield, with the youngster playing for 68 minutes alongside Mateo Kovacic and Bernardo Silva.
Lewis is in contention to play in a similar role on Sunday, but with Rodri available this time around and both Walker and Stones absent, the teenager is seemingly more likely to start as a right-back against Arsenal.
Whether Lewis is potentially selected at either right-back or in midfield could depend on Guardiola's decision to start Manuel Akanji, who is available for this weekend's title showdown after shaking off a knock sustained on international duty with Switzerland.
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Akanji has made a total of 34 appearances for Man City in all tournaments so far this season, including 19 Premier League starts, and has predominantly played as a central defender.
However, the 28-year-old has also at times been used as a hybrid midfielder in the 'John Stones role' alongside Rodri, or as either a right-back or left-back, so his versatility and confidence on the ball – just like Lewis – could come in handy for Guardiola this weekend.
Guardiola has rotated with Nathan Ake and Josko Gvardiol at left-back this season, but if he decides to select both players from the start against Arsenal, with one of those – most likely Ake – starting as a left-sided centre-back next to Ruben Dias, that could lead to either Akanji or Lewis playing at right-back.
That option seems less likely, though, as it would require Dias to move over to the right side of a back three when City are in possession, and Guardiola seemingly prefers the Portuguese to be at the heart of his defence with teammates either side of him.
One of Ake or Gvardiol are therefore expected to get the nod at left-back as Dias links arms with Akanji in central defence, with Lewis operating at right-back. Akanji would presumably be the one who drifts into midfield alongside Rodri, with both players given the responsibility of keeping Arsenal stars including Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard and ex-City man Gabriel Jesus quiet in central areas.
Oliver Thomas
