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Premier League | Gameweek 30

Mar 31, 2024 at 4.30pm UK

Etihad Stadium

Man City
0 - 0
Arsenal

Jesus (67'), Raya (79')

Key Manchester City duo miss training ahead of Arsenal title clash

By Carter White | 28 March 2024

Key Man City duo miss training ahead of Arsenal title clash

Manchester City train without defenders Kyle Walker and John Stones ahead of their clash with title rivals Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.

Manchester City duo John Stones and Kyle Walker missed training on Thursday ahead of Sunday's Premier League clash with title rivals Arsenal.

Having won the English crown during the last three campaigns, the Citizens are set to fight the Gunners and Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool for the title this time around.

Man City currently sit third in the top-flight standings, one point behind both Mikel Arteta's Gunners and the Reds, who will be looking to go out on a high under Klopp.

Prior to the international pause, Pep Guardiola's side progressed into the final four of the FA Cup after beating Eddie Howe's Newcastle United 2-0 at the Etihad.

Looking ahead to Sunday's crucial clash in Manchester on Sunday, the Citizens' open training session on Thursday provided some non-verbal clues in terms of fitness.

England's Kyle Walker receives medical attention after sustaining an injury on March 23, 2024 © Reuters

The first major absentee from the session was Walker, who injured himself in the first half of England's loss to Brazil on Saturday night.

Starting at right-back, Walker was given the task of keeping Vinicius Jr quiet before the 33-year-old felt a tweak in his hamstring and was replaced after 20 minutes.

Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa came on in Walker's place on the right side of the defence, and Gareth Southgate's men went on to the lose the match 1-0 due to a late Endrick strike.

Another key man missing from Man City's training on Thursday was Stones, who also picked up a fitness concern while playing for the Three Lions at Wembley.

During the second England offering of the international break, Southgate's side welcomed an in-form Belgium team to London, with 29-year-old Stones starting alongside Lewis Dunk at centre-back.

Manchester City's John Stones before the match December 16, 2023 © Reuters

Following some unconvincing defending in the opening minutes against Romelu Lukaku, it became apparent that the former Barnsley man had an issue and had to be subbed off.

It remains to be seen whether Stones's thigh injury is enough to keep him out of contention for a potentially title-deciding match on Sunday.

In better news for Guardiola's side, first-choice goalkeeper Ederson was spotted in training on Thursday after missing Brazil's international camp this month.

Kevin De Bruyne was withdrawn from Domenico Tedesco's Belgium squad due to a groin injury but was alongside his teammates for the open session in Manchester.