De Bruyne is reportedly unlikely to feature on Sunday, having sustained a groin injury during City’s Champions League match against Inter Milan.
However, Arteta remains pragmatic about the situation, noting City’s squad depth.
“No, because they have the option if he doesn’t play of Gundogan, Bernardo, Phil Foden, Kovacic,” Arteta said, emphasising City’s wealth of talent, “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.”
City’s extra day of rest
A topic that also surfaced during the press conference was Manchester City’s advantage of having an extra day of rest before Sunday’s fixture. City played at home on Wednesday, while Arsenal travelled to Italy for their Europa League clash against Atalanta on Thursday.
Arteta expressed some frustration but focused on preparing his squad.
“We wanted the same as them, we’re not getting it,” Arteta said, “so we have to adapt and make the most of the time that we have today and tomorrow and on the morning of the match to prepare in the best way to go there and win the game.”
Arteta’s comments reflected the challenging schedule his side has faced, playing three consecutive away games against Tottenham, Atalanta, and now City within a the space of a week.
Busy schedule takes its toll
Arteta admitted this hectic week has been challenging from a coaching perspective, especially given the injuries Arsenal have suffered.
“We’ve been preparing for this since pre-season. Obviously, we knew the schedule and we knew that it’s extremely rare to play in these conditions with three massive away games in six days,” Arteta said, highlighting the mental and physical preparations the team has undergone.
Despite injuries to several key players, including Martin Odegaard, Arteta remains confident in his squad’s readiness to face City’s tactical challenges.
City’s depth and preparation
While Pep Guardiola will likely be without De Bruyne, he still has a deep squad to call upon. Ruben Dias emphasised City’s readiness, downplaying De Bruyne’s absence and focusing on City’s preparedness: “We want them to come, and we want to be the best,” Dias said.
Similarly, Josko Gvardiol, one of City’s new additions, noted that Guardiola is preparing the team with multiple tactical setups, depending on how Arsenal approaches the match.
City’s injury woes
In addition to De Bruyne, City will also be without Nathan Ake and Oscar Bobb, both sidelined with injuries.
While Arsenal aim to capitalise on City’s injury issues, the Gunners are also managing a significant injury list, which includes Odegaard, Mikel Merino, Kieran Tierney, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and possibly Oleksandr Zinchenko.