Major Blow For Arsenal As Key Player Ruled Out of Manchester City Clash With Thigh Injury

Arsenal winger, Emile Smith Rowe is out of Arsenal’s FA Cup fourth-round clash with Manchester City today due to a thigh injury.

Infoexpert24 understands that Smith Rowe picked up the injury during training and it is not thought to be serious, with his absence from Friday’s squad described as precautionary.

The midfielder has only just returned from four months out with a groin injury and is still getting up to speed.

It is understood that his latest injury is not related to the groin issue that required surgery back in September.

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Smith Rowe was a notable absentee from the Arsenal squad, who were photographed arriving at their hotel in Manchester on Thursday night.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has taken a strong squad for the trip to the Etihad and Leandro Trossard is hoping to make his full debut.

Fellow new signing Jakub Kiwior has also travelled and could make his debut after joining on Monday from Spezia for £21million.

Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola have been friends for more than two decades, colleagues at Barcelona and City and now, for the first time, title rivals.

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Their long-standing friendship will be put on hold for the Gunners’ first encounter with the league champions this season, providing another litmus test as they attempt to match their domestically-dominant rivals.

Just over three years since leaving Pep’s City for his old club Arsenal, Arteta has achieved the uphill task of making the Gunners worthy opponents for his former employers. And for one week, the Premier League title race has been put on hold as attention turns to the FA Cup, with Arsenal chasing a domestic double at the expense of Arteta’s old boss.