Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is not viewing Sunday’s clash with Arsenal as the chance to lay down an early marker in the title race. The champions have the chance to open up a five-point lead over the Gunners,

Pep Guardiola admits he feels ‘so sorry’ for Martin Odegaard with the Arsenal captain set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Mikel Arteta confirmed earlier this week that his skipper’s ankle injury was ‘significant’ and it is reported that he will be in the treatment room for the next eight weeks.

Arsenal are also without Mikel Merino (shoulder), Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee) and Kieran Tierney (hamstring). Oleksandr Zinchenko has also missed the Gunners past two games with a calf injury but it remains to be seen if the Ukrainian is fit enough to return for the clash with City.