Pep Guardiola has confirmed that one of his key players for Manchester City will now be fit to play against Arsenal.
In his latest press conference, the two-time treble-winning manager confirmed that both Kyle Walker and John Stones will miss the contest on Sunday through injury.
Lee Dixon had claimed that Walker is especially “pivotal” to this City side and losing him would be a blow, which is the case now.
Pep Guardiola confirms Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji will be fit to face Arsenal
John Stones’ absence also means that there is a question over which of the Sky Blues’ defenders will replace him in his signature hybrid role against the Gunners.
Josko Gvardiol perhaps has the technical quality and footballing intelligence to do so but to deploy him in such a role against a team like Mikel Arteta’s would be a bold move.
A defender who has played in that role this season is Manuel Akanji, who Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has confirmed will be fit to play against Arsenal.
“He’s okay”, Guardiola answered in his latest press conference [via Manchester City’s official website].
It seems like the knock sustained by Akanji that meant he was excluded from Switzerland’s 2-0 victory against Northern Ireland was far from serious as he could now start on the weekend.
Manuel Akanji should be deployed as a right-back against the Gunners
With how versatile Manuel Akanji is as a player, perhaps Pep Guardiola is contemplating which role to use him in for Manchester City against Arsenal.
The options are either at right-back, at centre-back, in John Stones’ hybrid role or even at left-back.
At centre-back as well as at left-back, the issue is that Rico Lewis, who has not featured regularly this season will have to play at right-back instead of Manuel Akanji.
The Swiss colossus is not at his best in John Stones’ signature role and especially against a team like Arsenal, deploying him in such a role would be a massive risk.
At right-back, however, Akanji’s presence will allow Dias and one of Ake or Gvardiol to play alongside him in the centre of defence, with either of the left-footed defenders playing at left-back in what will be quite a balanced back four.
For that reason, Manuel Akanji should be utilised as a right-back if he starts the next game at the Etihad Stadium.
