Pep Guardiola provides Ederson injury update affecting Arsenal showdown

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has issued an update on the fitness of mainstay goalkeeper Ederson, affecting their Premier League meeting with Arsenal.

The Brazilian international was forced off following Liverpool’s equalising goal against the reigning Premier League champions last weekend, having collided with Anfield forward Darwin Nunez to giveaway the goalscoring penalty for the hosts.

A subsequent diagnosis on the thigh problem saw Ederson ruled out for between three and four weeks, ruling him out of action for the upcoming FA Cup tie at the Etihad Stadium, and throwing his availability into doubt for a meeting with Arsenal.

While some were already anticipating back to back starts for Stefan Ortega across both contests, a new update from Pep Guardiola has issued some hope of an early return for the 30-year-old mainstay shot-stopper.

Speaking to the media ahead of City’s meeting with Newcastle in the FA Cup quarter-final this weekend, Pep Guardiola revealed that Ederson is now ‘getting better’ and could be back in action after the upcoming international break.

“Ederson is getting better. Hopefully after the international break he will be ready,” said Guardiola. “Tomorrow for sure (he will not play), and after we will have two weeks off. After we will come back, next Wednesday/Thursday, and we will see how he feels. Hopefully as soon as possible.”

Victory for Manchester City will take them into yet another Wembley Stadium appearance, as they look to make it three FA Cup successes under Pep Guardiola’s reign at the club, and also retain their success from last season.

Meanwhile, discussions remain ongoing in the background over the future of Stefan Ortega, as a number of clubs aim to take advantage of his status as Manchester City’s back-up choice goalkeeper despite his immense quality.

The German’s Etihad contract expires at the end of next season, and City already have a proposed new deal on the table for both Ortega and his representatives to consider across the course of the coming months.