Mikel Arteta has confirmed a concerning injury doubt ahead of Arsenal’s high-stakes clash with Manchester City on Sunday.
The Gunners secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Girona on Wednesday, a win that confirmed their automatic qualification for the Champions League round of 16. However, Arteta revealed that one of his key players, David Raya, missed the game due to injury, raising concerns about his availability for the weekend’s Premier League fixture.
Despite making several changes to the starting lineup for the Girona match, Arteta’s decision to leave Raya out initially seemed like a tactical one, as he rotated his squad after defeating Wolves in the Premier League. However, following the game, the Arsenal manager clarified that Raya’s absence was injury-related, not a simple rest ahead of the crucial Man City match. Arteta confirmed, “Yeah, he’s not fit. Apart from that, if there is a player who deserves a chance then it’s Neto,” referring to the Brazilian goalkeeper who made his first Arsenal start in place of Raya.
Raya, who has been Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper since joining the club, has been a reliable figure between the posts. His absence from the Girona match was a surprise, especially given his consistency in the Premier League. With the 28-year-old now a doubt for the upcoming match against City, Arteta may be forced to rely on Neto, who was handed the opportunity to feature in his first Arsenal appearance on Wednesday. Neto, a 35-year-old Brazilian international, arrived on loan from Bournemouth on deadline day last summer, and his start marked him as Arsenal’s oldest debutant in over a century.
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Should Raya remain unavailable for Sunday’s crucial encounter at the Emirates, Neto will likely continue in goal for Arsenal. With Raya’s injury, Arsenal may face a challenging situation, as Neto would be the only senior goalkeeper in the squad, with 18-year-old Tommy Setford likely named on the bench. Raya has been a mainstay in the Gunners’ lineup, playing in every Premier League match since joining the club and last missing a league game in March 2024, when he couldn’t feature against his former club, Brentford.
Arteta’s comments after the Girona match highlighted his frustration with Raya’s injury, though he acknowledged Neto’s readiness to step in. “He certainly could not play, he is injured and that is it,” Arteta added, indicating that the injury could potentially sideline Raya for more than just one game. This leaves Arteta with a difficult decision ahead of Sunday’s match against Pep Guardiola’s City, which could have significant implications for the Premier League title race.
As Arsenal look to keep pace with league leaders Liverpool, Arteta will be hoping that Raya can recover in time for the visit of City. However, with the uncertainty surrounding Raya’s fitness, Neto will have a chance to prove himself at a critical juncture in the season. For Arteta, the immediate concern will be ensuring that his team remains competitive against one of their biggest rivals, despite the challenge posed by Raya’s potential absence.
