Manchester City star Rodri could miss rest of season with knee injury – reports

Manchester City’s Rodri could miss the rest of the season with an ACL injury (Martin Rickett/PA)

The 28-year-old was substituted midway through the first half at the Etihad Stadium after what appeared to be minor contact from Thomas Partey, and was replaced by Mateo Kovacic.

All three of City’s defeats during their historic fourth consecutive Premier League title-winning season last campaign came without the Spain international in the team, underlining the importance of his role in Pep Guardiola’s side.

He is due to undergo further tests but it is reported that early indications show his season could be over after only five league games.

City have been contacted by the PA news agency.

Guardiola, whose team moved back to the top of the table after John Stones’ stoppage-time equaliser against the Gunners, has Kovacic and Ilkay Gundogan as possible stand-ins, while England international Rico Lewis can also play in the role.

Speaking after Sunday’s match about the likely severity of Rodri’s injury, Guardiola said: “I don’t know yet. I didn’t speak with the doctors.

“Rodri is a strong man. If he leaves the pitch, then he felt something, otherwise he stays there.”

Rodri joined City in 2019 from Atletico Madrid and has made 260 appearances in all competitions, helping the club to four titles as well as the Champions League in 2023.

He was part of the Spain side that won Euro 2024 in Germany defeating England 2-1 in the final.

 

Ian Wright calls Erling Haaland a ‘coward’ after Man City clash with Arsenal

Ian Wright branded Erling Haaland a “coward” as the fall-out continued from one of the most combustible Premier League showdowns of recent times at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

John Stones’ injury-time equaliser sparked a series of confrontations at the end of an already-controversial encounter that evoked memories of some of Arsenal’s previous clashes across the city at Old Trafford two decades ago.

Former Gunners striker Wright did not hold back with his criticism of Haaland, who celebrated Stones’ leveller in the eighth minute of added time by throwing the ball at the back of defender Gabriel’s head.

Erling Haaland was at the centre of controversy after Manchester City’s draw with Arsenal (Martin Rickett/PA)

The Brazil international had his shirt pulled over his head in disappointment at the time and Wright, speaking via a video message on his Instagram account, said: “You know what proper boiled me up, was Haaland’s coward’s move.

“Throwing the ball in Gaby’s head when he’s not looking, when Gaby’s back’s turned to him, a real coward’s move.

“That’s what bothered me more than anything else. I thought you (Haaland) were bigger than that.”

Leandro Trossard’s red card added to the controversy in Arsenal’s clash with Manchester City (Martin Rickett/PA)

The Football Association confirmed that Haaland will face no further action over the incident. The FA is powerless to intervene because it was reviewed via VAR at the time, and not deemed to be a red card offence.

Haaland had opened the scoring with his 100th City goal, matching Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of reaching three figures in just 105 games for a major European club.

Riccardo Calafiori curled home the equaliser in his first Gunners start and Gabriel put the visitors ahead but they were forced to play the second half with 10 men after Leandro Trossard was sent off on the stroke of half-time for kicking the ball away.

The controversy continued after the final whistle as Haaland was overhead calling former City striker Gabriel Jesus a “f***ing clown” before a tension-filled handshake with Mikel Arteta, with Haaland telling the Gunners boss to “stay humble”.

Mikel Arteta makes feelings clear on Leandro Trossard red card against Man City

Mikel Arteta hinted at his frustration after Leandro Trossard was controversially sent off for Arsenal in their thrilling 2-2 draw with Manchester City.

The Belgian winger was given his marching orders shortly before half-time at the Etihad Stadium. After picking up a prior booking, he was sent off for kicking the ball away.

It was the second time that has happened over the past few weeks to Arsenal after Declan Rice ’s red card for a similar incident vs Brighton. And Arteta made his disgust very clear despite not commenting about the incident.
Speaking to the BBC, the Arsenal boss said: “I am so proud of the team. We played the game in a difficult context. Playing against the best team in the world.
“After what happened we went 2-1 up – it was a different story and I prefer not to make any comment about that [Leandro Trossard’s red card]. Obviously, it is already a miracle we played 56 minutes at the Etihad with 10 men. It is unbelievable what we have done.
“It is obvious what happened when they made that decision, but it doesn’t deserve my comment. I don’t want to ruin anything else off the pitch.”
Arteta was not the only one to be left angry by the sending-off. Riccardo Calafiori – who had equalised for the Gunners earlier in the first-half – also shared his thoughts.
“I don’t want to say too much, but the referee, for me, they have to do their job to keep the game good to watch, but in these kinds of actions they don’t have to put themselves too much,” he told Sky Sports.
“I think Leo [Trossard] didn’t even hear the whistle,” the Italian added. “And come on, you have to do your job, not more. You don’t have to do too much on the pitch. Let the guys play, let the teams play, because these are pure spectacles.”
While Arteta was left furious, his further comments about Manchester City’s Jeremy Doku confused matters. The Spaniard claimed the winger SHOULD have been sent off for kicking the ball away.
He added: “It is very obvious, I don’t need to talk about it. I think the red card is very clear, very obvious what people think.
“It is not my job to come here and judge what happened. My job is to survive in one of the most difficult environments there is in football for 55 minutes and try to get things done to survive.
“The rest is not my job, but it has already happened twice in five games which is very worrying to see in the best league the Premier League. [The red card] makes the situation impossible. It is very, very hard to play with 11 players, with ten it is impossible. With ten you have to defend your six yard box time and time again.”

Declan Rice and Vinicius Jr seriously impressed by Arsenal star v Manchester City

Arsenal and Manchester City played out a thrilling 2-2 draw at the Etihad on Sunday to share the spoils in a controversial game.

In recent years, it has been the master – Pep Guardiola – against his student – Mikel Arteta – and every time, there has only been one winner.

One thing is for sure, Arsenal are getting ever so closer and their Premier League title rivals are fully aware of it and feel it.

Usually, these types of matches are tactical and more related to a game of chess, but it was far from that, with drama from the very off to the very end.

From Leandro Trossard’s red card to John Stones’ 98th-minute equalising goal, it was edge-of-your-seat action and many talking points.

Arsenal’s defence was surprisingly opened up early on, with Erling Haaland duly obliging and opening the scoring, before summer signing Riccardo Calafiori scored a goal of a lifetime to equalise.

Then Rodri went off with a knee injury and that was a psychological boost for the away team, before Gabriel Magalhaes showcased his bullying qualities again from a corner to put his side ahead.

Then disaster struck, Trossard saw a second yellow for kicking the ball away just before the break, it was the Declan Rice red card all over again, with Arteta putting his jumper over his face and reacting in disgust at the call.

It became attack v defence after that, before Manchester City finally blew the house down, but the Arsenal players were still positive after the match.

Gabriel was lauded and applauded in the comments section of his Instagram post and he stated that it was a ‘massive effort from the boys’.

Gabriel Magalhaes helps ten-man Arsenal draw at Manchester City

Rice wrote in the comments section ‘you are too good’, with Vinicius Jr adding ‘mad’ and William Saliba calling his centre-back partner ‘boss’.

Gabriel’s partner Gabrielle labelled him ‘the king of Brazil’ and Jurrien Timber stated that he was ‘diffrr (different)’.

Arsenal v Manchester City Premier League title race

The London club have to move on and see this as a point gained, or else, it will end up affecting them for the rest of the season.

Arsenal will know to remain in touching distance, or even be slightly ahead, of their title rivals by the time they visit the Emirates for the reverse fixture.

And whilst the Gunners have been criticised for accepting draws at the Etihad, you just know that they will go for the win on their home ground against Manchester City.

Arsenal are getting closer to the Premier League title and they deserve huge credit for recent results and performances, especially with Martin Odegaard being injured.

The reason Jeremy Doku did not receive a yellow card for his action of kicking the ball away while Leandro Trossard received was shown a second yellow for a comparable offense away during the Manchester City vs. Arsenal match, which ended in a 2-2 draw, remains unclear…

The reason Jeremy Doku did not receive a yellow card for his action of kicking the ball away during the Manchester City vs. Arsenal match, which ended in a 2-2 draw, remains unclear.

The absence of a yellow card for Jeremy Doku following his action of kicking the ball away during the Manchester City vs. Arsenal match, which ended in a 2-2 draw, has sparked considerable discussion among Arsenal supporters on social media.

While Leandro Trossard received a second yellow card for a similar infraction, Doku’s actions went unpunished.

The Belgian winger was seen nudging the ball away just as Arsenal was preparing to take a free kick in the first half, yet he avoided any disciplinary action.

So, what led to Jeremy Doku not receiving a yellow card in the match against Arsenal, especially in light of Trossard’s sending off? Let’s examine the situation.

 

The reasoning behind referee Michael Oliver’s decision not to penalize Doku is quite clear to those who observed the incident.

 

As Arsenal players and fans protested after Doku’s action, Oliver indicated the location where the ball came to rest, stating, “It was there.”

 

Doku’s intent was to return the ball to the spot of the foul rather than to delay the game, effectively aiding in the quick resumption of play.

 

In contrast, Trossard’s action involved kicking the ball far from the designated spot well after the whistle had been blown, leaving Oliver with no option but to issue a dismissal to the Arsenal forward just before halftime.

 

Mikel Arteta is likely to be quite upset with Arsenal’s No. 19, Leandro Trossard.

 

After receiving a red card, Trossard was seen receiving a hug from Arteta as he made his way towards the tunnel at the Etihad Stadium, but the disappointment from the Spaniard is palpable.

 

Just weeks prior, Declan Rice faced a second yellow card for a similar infraction, an incident that garnered significant attention and sparked debate over the officiating.

 

Regardless of the validity of that decision, the scrutiny surrounding it should have prompted Arsenal to exercise greater caution in similar situations.

 

However, Trossard’s actions suggested a lack of awareness regarding the rules, which is likely to frustrate Arteta.

Pep Guardiola praised two Arsenal players, emphasizing their significant strength during the match…

Pep Guardiola recognized the outstanding contributions of two Arsenal players after the tumultuous 2-2 draw at the Etihad, referring to their performance as notably strong.

Mikel Arteta and his Arsenal squad are likely feeling exhausted after a night filled with remarkable moments against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

Arsenal came close to securing a memorable victory against Man City, largely due to their solid defense and strategic use of tactical fouls.

This is a contrast to the last few years of Arsene Wenger’s tenure and something Unai Emery was unable to achieve as well.

 

Under Mikel Arteta, the team has developed a resilient defense, currently spearheaded by Gabriel Magalhaes, who rightfully took on the captain’s role in the second half.

 

Gabriel’s headed goal seemed almost destined after Arsenal’s initial corner, a surprising statement given the caliber of their opponents.

 

In his post-match press conference, Guardiola highlighted both Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel, the two defenders who scored for Arsenal.

 

The Manchester City manager acknowledged Arsenal’s commendable defense, especially while playing with ten men, against a team vying to take his Premier League title.

 

Guardiola remarked, “A lot transpired in the final moments. We showed the determination to compete against a team aiming to claim our Premier League title.

 

“Calafiori scored an outstanding goal. We need to improve our defense on the second goal, but credit goes to them. Gabriel is incredibly strong.

 

“They effectively block players at the near post, which is a common occurrence in every match, so they deserve recognition.

 

“Following the red card, Arsenal should be commended for their performance; they were truly impressive.

 

“We managed to control the pace of the game and avoid unnecessary fouls, which was beneficial as the match progressed.”

 

Jurrien Timber has showcased his defensive prowess for Arsenal, demonstrating a warrior-like spirit.

 

Mikel Arteta has been working diligently to assemble a defensive unit that possesses the right blend of height, strength, tactical awareness, and ball-handling skills.

 

While Timber may not match the height of some of his defensive colleagues, he certainly exemplifies the other essential attributes.

 

It was unfortunate that an injury sidelined the Dutchman during his debut season at the Emirates, but he is now making significant strides to catch up.

 

However, it is worth noting that one Arsenal player has expressed a desire to leave the club in January, feeling dissatisfied with his anticipated playing time.

Arsenal player actually made Premier League history in 2-2 draw against Manchester City

A piece of history took place during Sunday’s Premier League clash between Manchester City and Arsenal.

It was a highly entertaining encounter at the Etihad Stadium, as the Gunners fought back from 1-0 down to lead 2-1 against Pep Guardiola’s champions for most of the game, despite Mikel Arteta’s side having just ten men for over 45 minutes after Leandro Trossard was dismissed.

However, John Stones then broke Arsenal hearts with a 98th minute equaliser.

Interestingly – however – amidst all the chaos, one Arsenal player actually made Premier League history for the Gunners…

Pep Guardiola singles out Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel Magalhaes

Speaking at his press conference after the game, Guardiola praised both Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel, Arsenal’s two goal-scorers from the back.

The Man City manager said that Arsenal deserved credit for how they defended with 10-men, a team who want to ‘steal’ his Premier League crown.

Guardiola said: “Many things happened in the second three or four. We had the passion to fight like in the last two years against the team who want to steal our Premier League.

“Calafiori made an exceptional goal. We have to defend the second goal but give credit to them. Gabriel is so strong.

They could be champions this year!”- Ex-Super Eagles star lauds Arsenal after defensive display against Man City

Former Super Eagles midfielder Sunday Oliseh has praised Arsenal after their enthralling 2-2 draw against Manchester City on Sunday.

Two of the major Premier League contenders－ Manchester City and Arsenal－ faced off at the Etihad Stadium in what was expected to be a tough fixture. Recall that last season, the Gunners pushed City for the league title until the final day of the season.

This season has not changed, as Arsenal and Manchester City have looked like the clear frontrunner for the Premier League title.

In the game on Sunday, Manchester City scored the opener in the 9th minute, but Arsenal equalized through Ricardo Calafiori in the 22nd minute. Then, they took the lead through Gabriel 24 minutes later. Unfortunately for them, Leandro Trossard got sent off just before the break after picking up a second yellow card.

That changed the complexion of the game as Arsenal went ultra-defensive in the second half. The Gunners played with five defenders for the entire second half. Manchester City were overly dominant, with 90% possession, 28 goal attempts, and an xG of 2.04, but they failed to score until the final minute of stoppage time.

Kai Havertz and Rodri incident explained amid Man City vs Arsenal VAR red card decision

Kai Havertz was not shown a straight red card in the opening seconds of Arsenal’s Premier League clash with Manchester City as VAR judged the incident to be ‘body to body’ contact, ‘both each running into the other’.

Despite its placement on the top-flight calendar, Man City v Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium – a clash between the top two clubs from each of the prior two Premier League campaigns – is tipped to have a huge say in the next title race. As expected, the match got off to a feisty start.

Within three seconds of the home side’s kick-off, midfielder Rodri was down on the turf clutching his face. Replays showed Arsenal’s Havertz to have bumped into his opponent as he moved off from the halfway line, with Sky Sports co-commentators Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher debating any deliberate intention behind the movement of the German international.