Pep Guardiola's final message to his players as they departed for the international break was clear: don't get injured. That is a familiar instruction from the
Manchester City boss, but this time there was a twist. With all countries playing friendlies, Guardiola inferred that players should be sensible over their workload during the international break, pointing to the relentless schedule across three competitions that awaits them when they return. He even told Erling Haaland that he'd 'come after' him if he came back with an injury, so he will have been relieved that footage of the striker limping in training was not a serious issue and that he ended up starting two games. "He's not my player anymore," Guardiola said of Haaland and whether he would have preferred he didn't play this week. It wasn't Haaland he needed to worry about. ALSO READ: Gareth Southgate's spiky response to John Stones injury as seven Man City players doubts vs
Arsenal ALSO READ: Stones, Walker, Haaland, De Bruyne - Man City injury news and return dates ahead of Arsenal First there was Kyle Walker, who tried to battle on but ultimately hobbled out of England's defeat to
Brazil. Gareth Southgate said he didn't know the extent of the injury but expressed concern that Walker is a player who is rarely injured, while Walker himself posted a message saying that he hoped the issue wasn't too serious. Reports suggest the injury is not as bad as first feared, but he will be assessed upon his return to the City
Football Academy this week. He is not a player worth risking a premature return, and despite the importance of the Arsenal game, getting Walker fit for
Real Madrid, if possible, has to be the priority. If Walker is missing, then the plan B would involve Manu Akanji or John Stones at right-back, with the other inverting into midfield - likely Stones. That plan B was shifted to a plan C when Akanji missed training for Switzerland and was subsequently left out of their friendly with
Ireland. And it became plan D (or worse) when Stones limped out of England's second friendly with an adductor injury. Southgate was forced to defend his decision to play Stones, and City will sweat on his condition ahead of Arsenal. As it stands, the defence against Arsenal is down to Rico Lewis, Josko Gvardiol, Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake. Not ideal. Matheus Nunes was given a chance to impress in Portugal's second friendly while others were granted some rest like Bernardo Silva and Ruben Dias. But Nunes wasn't in their squad to face Slovenia with a reported foot injury, and compounds the nightmare international break for Guardiola. Add to the list the three players who remained at City to work on their recoveries - Ederson, Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish - and there are seven players who are uncertain to be available to face Arsenal, including the talisman, first-choice goalkeeper, captain, world-class centre-back and versatile defender in good form. Then there is the fact that Haaland started two games, so did Phil Foden, Gvardiol and Ake - with Jeremy Doku and Mateo Kovacic playing in both games, and 90 minutes for Julian Alvarez, Rodri, Bernardo and Dias. There was not much help from international managers despite Guardiola's hopes. There is every chance that Ederson, De Bruyne and Grealish will be fit to face Arsenal, with reports positive on Walker, and others possibly just not risked on Tuesday. Guardiola will hope for some good news in that sense after ten days of bad news after bad news.