The Belgian midfielder was substituted at halftime during City’s goalless draw with Inter Milan in the Champions League, leaving the team facing uncertainty about his condition.
This match, set for Sunday at the Etihad Stadium, could see up to nine players missing due to injuries.
De Bruyne will have an additional day to recover compared to Arsenal, who play Atalanta on Thursday. He is expected to be evaluated after sustaining an injury following contact with goalkeeper Yann Sommer.
“I didn’t speak with the doctors yet,” Pep Guardiola said after the match. “I will have more info tomorrow.”
Guardiola noted he was contemplating the substitution early in the game due to Inter’s defensive strategy.
Savinho was also substituted at halftime, raising questions about his availability for the upcoming match, although Guardiola downplayed concerns, indicating a tactical adjustment.
City will continue to miss Oscar Bobb, who is recovering from a leg fracture, and Nathan Ake, expected to return next month following a hamstring injury sustained during the international break.
On the other hand, Arsenal is grappling with several injuries, including that of captain Martin Odegaard, who was injured while playing for Denmark.
Arteta stated, “The scans showed that he’s got some damage, especially on one of the ligaments in the ankle. It’s something quite significant so we’re going to lose him for a while.”
He emphasized Odegaard’s importance, noting, “He’s our captain. He’s been one of the biggest and best players in our team. Our identity is very linked to how he plays and behaves. It’s a big test for the team to see how able we are to show a different face.”
Arsenal will also be without Oleksandr Zinchenko, who is sidelined with a calf injury, and Mikel Merino, who is still recovering from a shoulder injury. Additionally, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney remain unavailable due to injuries sustained over the summer.
