Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Max Dowman is prepared to start against Manchester City on Sunday, following the news that Bukayo Saka will not be available due to injury. Saka has been out of action since the Carabao Cup final last month, and Arteta has now ruled him out of the crucial clash with City. Arsenal's lead at the top of the table has been reduced to six points after their defeat to Bournemouth, and they face a tough test against their title rivals.
Arteta is hopeful that Noni Madueke will be fit to play despite suffering a knee injury in the midweek meeting with Sporting, but he is confident that Dowman can step in if needed. The 16-year-old has impressed in his 11 senior appearances this season, becoming the youngest scorer in Premier League history with his goal against Everton in March. Arteta said, 'He will be ready, I am sure. You throw him into any context, and you know what he will be delivering.' Dowman replaced Madueke in the 63rd minute of the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Sporting, and the England international was seen limping afterwards.
Arteta added, 'We have another training session tomorrow, and it didn't look too bad after the game. He is quite positive, and he is a player who pushes through pain.' The absence of Saka is a significant blow for Arsenal, who are already without captain Martin Odegaard and the fit-again Kai Havertz due to injury. Arteta rejected suggestions that his team could play for a draw at the Etihad Stadium, insisting that he is preparing his team to win and reopen their nine-point lead.
'It is certainly the most important game, as it is the next one,' he said. 'We have earned the right to be in this position, to be challenging. With the possibility to win on Sunday, arguably against the best team and manager that this league has ever seen.' Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola has accepted that Manchester City's Premier League title bid will be over if they lose to Arsenal on Sunday. The Spaniard added that while an Arsenal win at the Etihad Stadium this weekend would end City's title challenge, there could still be plenty of twists and turns ahead with half a dozen games left to play.