Arteta under the spotlight as his gamble on Saka fails

Star again forced off injured, raising questions about how he is being handled by manager

- Dan Kilpatrick

Lens                                2 
Thomasson 25, Wahi 69

Arsenal                           1
Jesus 14

MANCHESTER CITY are not the kind of side that can ever be described as 'there for the taking', but on Sunday they will pitch up at Arsenal without their two most influential players in Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri, with a day's less rest and on the back on a defeat at Wolves which offered clues to their mortality.

There might never be a better time, at least in the Pep Guardiola era, for Arsenal to beat the champions - and a first League win over City since 2015 would be a significant psychological boost for the season ahead.

Arsenal, though, may go into Sunday afternoon's six pointer without talisman Bukayo Saka, after he was forced off in the first half of last night's Champions League defeat here in Lens.

Saka was being assessed at London Colney today after feeling discomfort in a muscle, and if he is ruled out of one of the biggest games of Arsenal's season, it will leave boss Mikel Arteta facing uncomfortable questions of his own.