Arsenal remain top of the Premier League table and have been able to accumulate a gap between themselves and main title rivals Manchester City. Pep Guardiola has had to deal with the absence of Kevin De Bruyne for almost all of the season and recently both Rodri and Erling Haaland have missed key games.
This has seen City drop to fifth in the league and miss a game competing in the Club World Cup Finals. Although several places below, winning their game in hand against Brentford would close the gap to just three points.
The latest Guardiola has said on the Norwegian was simply that he had not been training despite traveling out for FIFA’s club tournament. This was six days ago.
“Kevin started training yesterday and will train with us tomorrow but it’s been three months so he cannot play in the final, but he is getting better,” said Guardiola. “Erling still cannot train.”
The latest suggestions are that Haaland is very close to returning with a chance of making the squad for the clash at Everton. Arsenal managed to end an awful run at Goodison Park to win 1-0 and the Toffees have been a tough side to face since their points deduction.
The sanction has emboldened Sean Dyche’s side as they’ve lifted themselves to 16th in the table and would into the top half had they not lost the 10 points. They were unlucky not to take anything from Tottenham before Christmas and will approach the clash with City with nothing to lose.
Arsenal will have the opportunity to see how all their title chasers have fared in the days leading up to their Thursday night clash with West Ham United. This can be a double-edged sword with them missing out on the chance to put the pressure on their rivals whilst avoiding the pressure they can put on them so they win their games.
Erling Haaland’s potential return will be a serious boost to City who hasn’t been as good with Julian Alvarez deputising. But the incorporation of De Bruyne into the squad for the first time this season will have an arguably more positive effect for Pep Guardiola.
Arsenal will meanwhile be hoping to balance out this City boost with their own returns. Thomas Partey and Takehiro Tomiyasu expected to be fit next month although there is the African Cup of Nations and Asia Cup to consider.