The Belgian missed last week’s FA Cup win at Sheffield Wednesday and Sunday’s Manchester derby defeat with a shoulder problem and Pep Guardiola admits he may have to sit out the visit of the Gunners.
However, the boss has spoken about his excitement at having Leroy Sane available again.
Sane hasn’t played since August after picking up an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the early stages of our Community Shield win over Liverpool.
But he returned to the training field six weeks ago and played for the EDS at Arsenal at the end of February.
“Kevin is training but I don’t know if he will be fit for tomorrow,” Guardiola said.
“He [Sane] is getting better week by week. I am excited to have him back.
“He is not injured, he is training. He can play, the issue is the lack of rhythm, the tempo. He was ready weeks ago.”
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Meanwhile, Guardiola says it will be a pleasure to see Mikel Arteta in the opposite dugout tomorrow evening.
Arteta left his position as assistant to Guardiola after three successful years to become Arsenal’s head coach in December.
He’s since stabilised their form, with a new high-intensity style beginning to emerge at the Emirates Stadium.
Guardiola says he can see Arteta’s fingerprints on Arsenal’s football already, which he thinks is testament to his coaching skills.
“I’m looking forward to welcoming him back to Manchester,” Guardiola said.
“I said three or four years ago when we started together; after a half a year I was convinced he would be a manager when the right opportunity came and he decided it was the right opportunity for him.
“I would say [he has started] incredibly well in the fact his ideas are already implemented in the team.
“His positional game is getting better day by day. Doing that in a short time is not easy.
“I am pretty sure Arsenal will have success in the short time in the future with him on the bench.”
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