Pep Guardiola Highlights Man City’s ‘Advantage’ Ahead of Arsenal Showdown Amid Odegaard Absence
Pep Guardiola has acknowledged that Manchester City may have a slight “advantage” heading into their upcoming clash with Arsenal due to having an extra day of rest.
City faced Inter Milan at home in midweek on Wednesday, while Arsenal were away at Atalanta on Thursday night. Guardiola is aware of the importance of this edge but noted that his side has often been at a disadvantage in the past due to scheduling.
Guardiola stated, “It’s an advantage but I could make a list of how many times we’ve had this ‘advantage’ against us.” Despite this, he recognizes that any rest period matters, especially in such a tightly contested fixture.
City’s manager also mentioned that Kevin De Bruyne will be assessed ahead of the match after the midfielder suffered a muscular issue during their Champions League game.
“He feels a little bit better today. Tomorrow is training and we will see,” Guardiola added, indicating De Bruyne could still feature.
On the other hand, Arsenal will be without their captain, Martin Odegaard, who has been ruled out for a prolonged period due to injury.
Guardiola expressed sympathy, saying, “I’m so sorry for him. I always like to play against the toughest squad.” He praised Mikel Arteta’s work at Arsenal, acknowledging that year by year, the Gunners are becoming a stronger side.
The highly anticipated match sees Premier League champions City face off against Arsenal, who have finished as runners-up in the league for the past two seasons.
With both teams aiming for the title this season, the contest is set to be a critical moment in the race.
Pep Guardiola Highlights Man City’s ‘Advantage’ Ahead of Arsenal Showdown Amid Odegaard Absence
