Abdukodir Khusanov hauled off against Arsenal as Manchester City await injury update | OneFootball

Manchester City took off Abdukodir Khusanov at half-time in their Premier League meeting with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday evening.

The 21-year-old defender started for the third time this week as Pep Guardiola named an unchanged starting XI for three consecutive games for only the third time during his tenure at the Etihad Stadium.

Arsenal dominated possession in the first half but despite their constant efforts to break down what has been a rejuvenated and resolute Manchester City backline since the international break, Khusanov did not allow anything to go past him on the right side of defence.

The Uzbekistan international was a Rolls-Royce in the opening half, thwarting Leandro Trossard time and time again and constantly winning his individual battles to keep the Gunners at bay.

However, a coming together in the closing stages of the first-half saw Khusanov go down and receive treatment on his ankle, with Manchester City’s medical staff tending to the Central Asian star in the minutes leading to half-time.

With City having a testing schedule on the horizon, Guardiola did not risk his January signing and replaced Khusanov with Matheus Nunes at the interval, with the full extent of the Uzbek’s issue yet to be known.

Officials at the Etihad will be hoping that their easing schedule in terms of fixture competitiveness will allow for Abdukodir Khusanov to be dropped out of the line-up without too much of an effect on overall team performance.

City return to action in midweek with the return of the Carabao Cup, as Pep Guardiola and his players travel to Huddersfield Town for the third round of the competition, aiming to strengthen their hopes for silverware success come the business end of the campaign.

Rotational options on the right-side of defence are likely to come down to one of three options in the absence of the Uzbekistan international, namely the likes of Rico Lewis, Matheus Nunes, and John Stones.