'Extremely' - Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta respond to Kevin De Bruyne injury question ahead of Man City vs Arsenal

Manchester City are sweating over the fitness of key star Kevin De Bruyne as they prepare to face Arsenal on Sunday. With the Premier League season still only four games old for the two most obvious title candidates, this is no title six-pointer, but we should get a better idea of which of the two teams is the favourite, at least if a draw is avoided.

Preparations have not been ideal for either team, with City having been in Champions League action with Inter Milan on Wednesday night, drawing at home, while Arsenal drew away to Atalanta in the competition 24 hours later, meaning less rest and more travel ahead of their trip to the Etihad Stadium.

Arsenal already have their fair share of injury issues, with Martin Odegaard sidelined with an ankle ligament injury, while Takehiro Tomiyasu is also out and Oleksandr Zinchenko is a doubt. City are without Oscar Bobb and Nathan Ake with longer term issues, while Kevin De Bruyne picked up an issue during the draw with Inter, coming off at half-time.

De Bruyne would naturally be a huge blow for City, even if they made do without him for much of the first half of last season. Asked for an update during his pre-match press conference on Friday, Citizens boss Pep Guardiola said: “Kevin feels a little better, but not yet. Tomorrow we train and we will see. He could be involved.”

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was asked whether De Bruyne’s potential absence is a boost for Arsenal. “No because they have the option if he doesn't play of Gundogan, Bernardo, Phil Foden, Kovacic,” he replied. “They're all world-class players. We have a few missing as well and we have to adapt, but certainly those kinds of teams don't rely on one individual which is extremely important for them.”

Foden boost

Illness has kept Phil Foden out of late, but he returned during the week and Guardiola is delighted to have the England international back in the mix. “Every player needs a break and rest,” he said.

“Phil had some disturbance in last few weeks but played a good 45 minutes in midweek and he was the best player last season and now he is fighting to be back. His intensity and his movement in the pockets... he is one of the best in the world. You can imagine how pleased I am to have him back.”