Foden decision, Gundogan role - Three ways Man City can lineup vs Arsenal without Kevin De Bruyne

Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne in action for Manchester City
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Manchester City may be forced to navigate their biggest game of the season thus far without Kevin De Bruyne due to injury. The Belgium international went off at half time of the Champions League stalemate against Inter after appearing to pick up an adductor issue when taking a shot that was saved by Yann Sommer.

With the incident arriving just before the interval, De Bruyne remained on to see out the first half before he was replaced at the break by Phil Foden. When asked for an update on the 33-year-old, Guardiola refused to rule him out but his verdict was hardly full of optimism.

"He feels a little bit better today but we have not yet had training and we will see," he said in a press conference ahead of the game. "He could be [involved]." Though City have an abundance of options that can replace De Bruyne, his potential absence in a game of such magnitude will be a blow.

READ MORE: Man City can force Premier League to answer question nobody is asking over 115 charges

READ MORE: I knew I had to leave Man City when Pep Guardiola made me cry - now Mikel Arteta has set me free

Ilkay Gundogan made his first league start since returning to City over the summer while Foden has played just 90 minutes of football this season. Bernardo Silva is another option that can come into a central position with Mateo Kovacic coming in alongside Rodri a possibility given the strength of Arsenal's squad.

With that said, MEN Sport has taken a look at three ways Guardiola could set up his team, all without De Bruyne, for the visit of Arsenal.

Minimal changes

Based on the starting XI named to face Brentford last weekend, Guardiola may prefer to make just two changes. Rodri making his first Premier League start is extremely likely with Foden then coming into the team as a direct replacement for De Bruyne.

Kovacic would be the other to make way with Savinho, Gundogan and Erling Haaland all retaining their respective places in the team.

Rodri; Savinho, Gundogan, Foden, Grealish; Haaland

Control the priority

Alternatively, wholesale changes could be made to make up for De Bruyne's absence with Kovacic next to Rodri and Bernardo Silva dropping deeper in order to ensure City control proceedings. Jeremy Doku would then be an option in behind and also to run at Ben White.

Haaland and Foden will both remain in advanced central positions with the latter capable of finding the gaps between Arsenal's makeshift midfield and sturdy defence.

Rodri, Kovacic; Bernardo, Foden, Doku, Haaland

A mixture of both

Guardiola could instead choose to combine both and select a front six that is able to dominate while also keeping consistency.

That would see Rico Lewis invert to be alongside Rodri with Bernardo and Gundogan taking turns to advance through midfield with Foden, Grealish and Haaland as the trio that will stay high and aim to cause problems.

Rodri; Bernardo, Foden, Gundogan, Grealish; Haaland