“Rodri at risk of prolonged absence: A blow for Manchester City.”

A tough blow for Manchester City and an unexpected gift for Arsenal in the fierce title race for the Premier League: Rodri’s injury is turning out to be much more serious than the Citizens’ officials initially anticipated. The Spanish midfielder, a key player in Pep Guardiola’s setup, will miss this afternoon’s match against Brentford at the Etihad Stadium, leaving the league leaders in an increasingly vulnerable position.

According to recent information from journalist Sam Lee, the initial medical assessments after the match against Arsenal did not indicate a concerning level of severity. However, the injury to his groin has proven to be more complex and resistant than expected. Although Rodri has returned to training, his availability for upcoming matches remains uncertain, casting a shadow over Manchester City’s aspirations in this final stretch of the championship.

“The initial examinations after the clash with Arsenal did not show a serious injury, but the groin injury turned out to be more serious than it seemed. He is already training again and should return to play this season, although it was expected that he would come back sooner,” Sam Lee stated on social media.

This prolonged absence of Rodri is not new to Manchester City fans. The Spaniard struggled with injuries throughout last season, having participated in only eight matches, which contributed to Guardiola’s team unexpectedly dropping to third place in the Premier League, as well as losing in the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace. His return this season has been a relief for the Catalan coach, with 31 matches played so far, but this setback could seriously compromise City’s ability to keep pace with Arsenal’s relentless form.

The importance of Rodri to the Citizens is clear: the team has a negative record when the midfielder is absent, which could further hinder their pursuit of the league leaders. The remaining fixtures for Manchester City are slightly more demanding than those of Arsenal, making the player’s absence even more critical for the club’s ambitions.

Despite being favorites to win against Brentford today, Manchester City has already shown evident weaknesses, such as in the dramatic three-all draw against Everton, where the team displayed defensive lapses and a lack of consistency. Without Rodri, the midfield structure may be compromised, opening the door for Arsenal to extend their lead and take a decisive step towards the title.

Pep Guardiola knows he needs his midfielder back as soon as possible to dream of a full recovery in the Premier League. The title race is now hotter than ever, and Rodri could be the decisive factor between glory and failure for Manchester City in this electrifying season.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.