Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Max Dowman is fully prepared to start if the situation demands it, after Bukayo Saka was ruled out of Arsenal's upcoming showdown with Manchester City on Sunday. Saka has not featured since the Carabao Cup final last month, and the Arsenal boss made it clear that the winger will not be available for the Etihad encounter, which Pep Guardiola has described as a "final" in the title race.
Arsenal's cushion over City shrank to six points after a surprising defeat to Bournemouth last weekend, and the Gunners now travel to Manchester having played one more match than their rivals. Arteta hopes that Noni Madueke will be fit despite the winger sustaining what appeared to be a knee problem in Wednesday's Champions League tie against Sporting CP, but he also stressed that he would not hesitate to throw 16‑year‑old Dowman into the fray if needed. Dowman has already made an impression in his eleven senior outings this season, notably becoming the youngest scorer in Premier League history when he netted against Everton in March at just 16 years and 73 days old.
"He will be ready, I'm sure of it," Arteta told reporters. "You can drop this kid into any situation and you know the kind of impact he'll have." The Arsenal manager went on to praise the teenager's consistency: "He has shown, in every game we have used him, that he can deliver when called upon." Dowman entered the Champions League quarter‑final second leg against Sporting in the 63rd minute, replacing Madueke, and although the England international was seen limping after the match, Arteta remained optimistic about his recovery.
"We have another training session tomorrow and it didn't look too bad after the game," Arteta added. "He is positive, he pushes through pain, and I hope he will be available, but we will see how he feels in training." Saka's ongoing absence is a significant blow for Arsenal. Like captain Martin Ødegaard, the winger has been plagued by injuries throughout the campaign, and his unavailability adds to the list of doubts ahead of the decisive fixture. "He is just starting to do some things," Arteta said, referring to Saka's gradual return to fitness.
"We will monitor his progress, but at the moment he is not available." When asked whether Arsenal might settle for a draw at the Etihad, Arteta dismissed the notion outright. "We are preparing to win, not to settle for a point," he declared.
"This is the most important game right now – the next one – and we have earned the right to be where we are. Facing arguably the best team and manager in the league is a huge privilege, and we intend to treat it as a big opportunity.
We will not waste a second thinking about a draw; every match we prepare for is with the aim of winning." Pep Guardiola echoed the high stakes from the City side. He admitted that a defeat to Arsenal would effectively end Manchester City's Premier League hopes, but reminded everyone that there are still several games left in the season. "If we lose, it's over for us," Guardiola said.
"But we still have seven games to play, and the title race will be decided in those remaining fixtures." Guardiola also addressed the psychological aspect of the contest, urging his players to treat the match like any other football game and not let emotions distract them. He praised Arsenal for their resilience, noting that they are the only English side still in the Champions League and have been the toughest opponent City has faced this season. "We want to challenge them," he affirmed, adding that the confidence within his squad is high and they feel ready for the test. Injury news on the City side included the continued absence of Ruben Dias, while doubts over Nico O'Reilly's hamstring were eased after the Spaniard confirmed the full‑back would be fit for Sunday.
Guardiola also hinted that Arteta would likely make tactical tweaks, as both managers are accustomed to adjusting their line‑ups in high‑pressure games. Arsenal, chasing their first top‑flight crown since the unbeaten 2003‑04 season, have faced criticism this campaign for being overly pragmatic and relying heavily on set‑piece proficiency. Guardiola acknowledged the scrutiny, saying, "People are demanding a lot – media, supporters, everyone. I enjoy that pressure because it teaches you a lot.
They want to win, and we will fight for it." He also reflected on the significance of Arsenal's long wait for a league title, noting that a 22‑year drought creates a unique motivation for the Gunners. "I know how it feels to win that first title after a long gap," Guardiola said.
"That feeling cannot be countered, and that's why we must focus on our own game." City have been formidable at home, losing only one of fifteen league matches on their own turf this season. Four weeks ago they halted Arsenal's quadruple ambitions when O'Reilly scored twice in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley. Yet Guardiola expects Arteta to make adjustments, acknowledging the constant evolution of Arsenal's tactics.
"If we play the same way for 95 minutes and they do what they did last time, we will win," he said. "But I know Mikel a little, they will adjust something, and we have to be prepared." Both managers recognize the magnitude of the encounter: a win for Arsenal could restore their historic dominance, while a victory for City would cement their resurgence under Guardiola. As the clock ticks down to kickoff, fans on Sky Sports and around the world will be watching to see whether the teenage prodigy Dowman gets his chance to shine on one of the biggest stages in English football, and whether Arsenal can seize the moment to close the gap on their rivals and keep their title hopes alive.