Arsenal handed potential title boost as Manchester City midfielder Mateo Kovacic out for four weeks

Arsenal have been handed a fresh Premier League title boost as Manchester City are set to be without another midfielder for a while after manager Pep Guardiola announced that Mateo Kovacic is set to be out for around four weeks.

The reigning champions are already without Spain international midfielder Rodri for the remainder of the season, struggling in his absence and losing their last two league games, and being without another key player could be good news for the Gunners.

Kovacic has featured in all the 11 league games Man City have played in 2024-25, and being without the Croatian in midfield for the next six league games will be a massive blow.

Arsenal are four points behind them in the table, with nine points separating them from leaders Liverpool.

However, not many see the Reds as credible title challengers this term given that they have benefited from a forgiving run of early fixtures, with that complemented by a lack of injuries.

The Etihad Stadium club and the Gunners are still expected to go head-to-head for the title again, and a weakened Man City midfield is good news for Arsenal.

Guardiola has watched his side fall apart in the middle of the park without Rodri, and being without Kovacic for the majority of the remaining games in 2024 further adds to his headache.

The North Londoners have injury woes of their own, but they have managed to get along so far this term, and the return of Martin Odegaard is a much-needed boost.

Arsenal host Nottingham Forest on Saturday and a victory will be huge given their recent struggles, and they will be keeping an eye on proceedings when Man City host Tottenham Hotspur later in the day.

The Gunners winning and the Cityzens dropping points tomorrow will be great news, and the Liverpool v Man City game on December 1 is another fixture Arsenal would be interested in its result.