How do Man City avoid conceding late goals?

Q&A with Shamoon Hafez banner
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Gabriel Martinelli scores against Man CityImage source, Getty Images

On Wednesday, BBC Sport's Manchester City reporter Shamoon Hafez will be answering a selection of the questions you have sent in.

First up, he looks at issues around tactics and mentality at the end of games.

Arjun asked: What do City need to do to avoid late goals being scored against them?

Shamoon answered: It is purely lapses in concentration rather than being anything terminal.

The backline were caught out high for Gabriel Martinelli's equaliser for Arsenal, while a rash challenge from Nico Gonzalez allowed Eric Dier to score from the penalty spot at Monaco.

But City have dropped three points in the Premier League after conceding in the 89th minute or later and a further two in the Champions League. They cannot afford to keep doing that if they are to achieve success this season.

Jotham asked: With Rodri injured for now, do you think that the team will benefit or suffer from having González, despite him not fully settling into the pace of the Premier League?

Shamoon answered: It has been a slow burner for Nico Gonzalez's Manchester City career so far but, given Rodri's injury and 17 games still to be played in three different competitions between now and the end of the year, boss Pep Guardiola will have no choice but to use Nico.

He put a steady performance in the gritty win at Brentford before the international break, but probably needs to impose himself more in matches. Can he grab games by the scruff of the neck and act as the catalyst to drive the team forward?

Rodri's injury issues are becoming a real worry now. City have tried to be careful with his reintegration back into the first team but he broke down once again at the Gtech.

At 29 years old, can his body hold up and help him rediscover the form that led him to the award for the best player in the world?

Come back later on Wednesday for Shamoon's thoughts on potential transfer targets.