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Manchester City midfielder Rodri suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in City's 2-2 draw with Arsenal in September.

The injury is expected to keep him out for the entirety of the 2024-25 campaign, however, speaking last month, the Spaniard stated that he is "aiming to return this season."

"Now the seasons are getting longer and the Club World Cup ends on 13 July, I have in mind to return this year, as a challenge," he told Spanish show COPE.

"I've already started walking, and I feel better mentally than I thought I would."

This season's Premier League concludes on Sunday, 25 May.

Nothing amplifies Manchester City's frustration in the final third against Juventus more than the touch map of Erling Haaland.

The striker had just 18 touches of the ball in 90 minutes against the Italian side, the least out of anyone that started the game.

In fact, the player with next fewest was goalkeeper Ederson with 38, while the closest outfield player to him was Jeremy Doku with 47.

The amount of times that Haaland picked the ball up deep shows just how frustrating of a night it was for the forward, with five even coming in his own half.

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• Man City have lost seven of their past 10 matches across all competitions (W1 D2), as many defeats as they had suffered in their previous 105 matches combined (7).
• City have gone eight games without a clean sheet away from home in all competitions; the joint-longest such run of Pep Guardiola’s managerial career (also a run of eight in October 2016).

Pat Nevin
Former Chelsea winger on the Football Daily podcast

If it was one simple thing, Pep Guardiola would have sorted it. A lot of things have happened at the same time. Rodri not playing, not controlling the game, that makes a huge difference, first of all.

Second of all, I think for a period of time, they've had full-back problems, the second goal was an absolute stick-on of where your problem is there, particularly if you tell one of them to play centre midfield and they get lost.

Because of the respect that we've got for Manchester City and of the players and of what Pep Guardiola's done, it is true, they're not what they were because they're getting older and they can't get around the pitch quickly.

They're not as good players as they were, not as sharp or zippy. It's only a tiny little drop, it's tiny.

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We can talk all day about how the British clubs might finish up and what their league position could mean for their route through the competition - and believe us, we will.

But let's face it, the main thing we all want to see is GOALS.

Click here to watch the highlights of every single one of this week's Champions League ties.

Enjoy!

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Arsenal's final two Champions League fixtures of the league phase will come in early 2025 with one home game and one away.

• Dinamo Zagreb (h) - 22/01/25
• Girona (a) - 29/01/25

Thierry Henry
Former Arsenal striker on BBC Football Focus

Bukayo Saka is my favourite player, he's been there for so long and he's so nice. I never thought he would reach the levels we are seeing.

He's a starter for Arsenal, he's a starter for England. I remember when he started he was playing wing-back and the evolution of his game has been outstanding.

BukayoSaka's development since making his European debut - in the Europa League - as a 17-year-old in 2018 has been extraordinary.

Now 23, he has played in seven Champions League games at the Emirates Stadium, scoring seven times and providing four assists.

Since the start of last season, only Harry Kane (18), Vinicius Jr (16) and Antoine Griezmann (13) have been involved in more Champions League goals than Saka (8 goals and six assists).

In that same period he has both scored and assisted in a single Champions League game on five occasions, more than any other player.

This season, Mohamed Salah is the only Premier League player with more goal involvements (28) than Saka (21) in all competitions.

Arsenal

More from Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta: "Very happy. Obviously scoring the three goals, keeping a clean sheet and winning the game.

"We started the game very well, in the first half we should have put the game to bed but we didn't. In the Champions League you will have difficult moments and we suffered but then with the second goal, the game was in control."

On scoring three goals from open play: "Very good, especially because they were very different goals. That's what we want, from every phase of play to be a threat. We could have scored many goals from open play but, anyway, very happy."

Arsenal

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, speaking to TNT Sports about Bukayo Saka: "He looks really mature. What he has already done in the game at his age is incredible. Very humble, a great guy to have around and an incredible talent.

"He's a special person. In his role, his leadership is increasing. With the young kids he is amazing, with the seniors he is amazing. He is loved by everybody and he makes the difference on the pitch."

More from Arteta below....

Bukayo Saka continued his fine 2024-25 form with a performance manager Mikel Arteta described as "exceptional" against Monaco.

It seems unthinkable that the 2023 Champions League winners could be eliminated after the first phase of this season's competition, but that is now a very real prospect following Wednesday night's defeat for Manchester City at Juventus.

They now face a tricky tie at Paris St-Germain, who are also scrapping for their survival in the competition.

Pep Guardiola's Premier League champions then finish with a home match against Club Brugge, who could also need a positive result in their final game to make it into the knockout stages.

So the question is, where will City finish in the league - top eight, ninth to 24th or bottom 12?

Make your choice in the poll at the top of this page...

Pat Nevin
Former Chelsea winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

The biggest worry is, you keep on playing like this then there is a chance you don't get through.

With two games [to go] they should still be able to do it.

But the saddest thing about Manchester City is 'are you really shocked?' I'm not completely shocked.

Arsenal's victory over Monaco moved them up to third in the Champions League table.

One more point from their final two games would now ensure the Gunners are safe from elimination while two wins from two games will guarantee them a top eight finish.

Mikel Arteta's side face Dinamo Zagreb (24th) at home and Girona (30th) away in January to round off the league phase.

The first of Bukayo Saka's two goals against Monaco.