Man City dealt new title race blow as Arsenal tighten grip on Premier League trophy | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola needs a boost as Gunners take back control of the title race

Manchester City have been handed another blow in their pursuit of Arsenal in the Premier League title race.

Monday's dramatic 3-3 draw at Everton means City's destiny is again not in their own hands with three games of the season to go, and left Arsenal in a stronger position than ever to win the league for the first time since 2004.

It could have been much worse, too, with Jeremy Doku's 97th-minute equaliser rescuing a point for his team.

The trip to the Hill Dickenson Stadium was the third game in a row that influential midfielder Rodri has missed due to a groin injury.

Guardiola told reporters ahead of the draw at Everton that Rodri "is getting better", adding: "[He] still hasn’t trained with us, so we will see."

Rodri

PA

Almost a week later and Rodri was again absent from training and almost certainly set to miss Saturday's visit of Champions League-chasing Brentford in the Premier League.

Three points over the Bees is essential, and City look set to compete without Rodri.

According to Sky Sports News, Rodri was unable to join his team-mates in Thursday's training session.

Pep Guardiola will provide another update at his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon. Nico Gonzalez and Mateo Kovacic would deputise for Rodri, alongside Bernardo Silva.

There was positive news from the training ground, though, with Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol able to join the squad.

Gvardiol has been sidelined since January, while Dias has not played since March. Neither are expected to return against Brentford.