Nathan Ake issues Premier League title race warning to Arsenal

Manchester City defender Nathan Ake has sent a fresh warning to Premier League title rivals Arsenal upon his return to competitive club action this week.

The Dutch international started for Pep Guardiola against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup on Thursday night, as Manchester City progressed through to the quarter-finals of the competition with a 3-2 victory.

Ake was integral to the positive result, as the former Chelsea and Bournemouth defender scored City’s third goal on the night – a strike that ultimately proved to be the decisive effort in the contest.

That strike did not come without trying however, as Manchester City squandered their lead on two occasions with goals from Fabio Carvalho and Mohamed Salah, after Erling Haaland and Riyad Mahrez had previously put them ahead on the night.

But with the latest round of the League Cup now out of the way, attentions will quickly turn to the first Premier League clash since the break for the World Cup, as Manchester City travel to face Leeds United on December 28.

Ahead of that game, Nathan Ake has issued a stern warning to the current league leaders Arsenal, as Manchester City look to chase down the Gunners and increase the pressure heading into the new calendar year.

Speaking after the victory against Liverpool on Thursday night, Nathan Ake said, “We’re going to do everything to challenge them.”

“They’re doing really well this season.”

He continued, “We’ve started off well since coming back now – our first game out of the way – and hopefully we carry on like this.”

Nathan Ake and his fellow central defenders have however been issued with a fitness issue within their ranks, as Ruben Dias is expected to be ruled out of action for Manchester City for up to a month.

The Portuguese international defender sustained a thigh/hamstring injury during his nation’s final matches at the recent World Cup, and aggravated the problem during the quarter-final defeat to Morocco.