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Manchester City can cope without injured Kevin De Bruyne, claims teammate Kyle Walker

The midfielder is facing up to three months out after injuring his knee ligaments in training

Thursday 16 August 2018 08:07 BST

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Kevin De Bruyne arrives on crutches for premiere of Man City documentary

Manchester City are waiting to learn the extent of a serious knee injury suffered by key player Kevin De Bruyne in training.

Reports have suggested the Belgium playmaker could be out for two to four months after being hurt during a session on Wednesday.

The 27-year-old, who is due to undergo tests, arrived on crutches and wearing a leg brace as he attended the premiere of Amazon's All Or Nothing fly-on-the-wall documentary about the club on Wednesday evening.

Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

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1/22Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Arsenal Petr Cech 6 out of 10

His goal was shielded ably by Arsenal’s backline, but when called upon he was not found wanting, saving well down low from De Bruyne early on. He might, though, have done better for Toure’s goal.

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Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Bellerin 6 out of 10

Back to his best at both ends, particularly putting in a tidy shift defensively where he cut out several attempts to spread the play out wide.

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Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Mertesacker 7 out of 10

Dominant in the air throughout. City had plenty of corners but with Mertesacker in the area Arsenal never looked threatened.

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Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Koscielny 7 out of 10

Set the tone as early as the third minute when he whipped the ball off Aguero’s feet as he looked to break. Bar one miskick in the first half this was excellent from Koscielny, who tidied up loose passing from City well.

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Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Monreal 6 out of 10

Solid in defence and valuable in attack just like his compatriot at the other end. Early on he let De Bruyne break too often but he soon fixed that.

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Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Flamini 6 out of 10

Took it upon himself to stick to Silva throughout and so he deserves credit for the tough time City’s playmaker had. At times he can be bypassed too easily on the counter attack but his organisation of the backline was critical.

Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Ramsey 7 out of 10

All the questions around Ramsey ahead of the game were about his defensive game; he answered them in style time and again. His tackle count may not be the highest, but he was always back doing his duty. In the second half he embraced his licence to bomb on against City’s diffident backline and could have had a goal.

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Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Campbell 8 out of 10

A 40 yard sprint to add ballast to defence in an early City counter typified everything that has been good about Campbell. Committed at both ends of the field he brought perfect balance to the lineup, whilst his understanding with Bellerin improves by the day. Deserved a goal to seal a man of the match display.

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Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Ozil 8 out of 10

Of course he registered yet another pair of assists, even though the City midfield attempted to surround him from minute one to minute 90. His eye for a pass was yet again sublime as he offered further proof he could be relied on in the biggest games.

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Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Walcott 7 out of 10

He’s not in the side to track back. Nor to add to the build-up. Or to press the opposition. Wenger picked him because given a half-chance he will probably hit the target, as he showed quite emphatically for the opening goal. What more could be asked of him?

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Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Giroud 7 out of 10

An exemplary display of what a target man should do in the modern age. He relished aerial battles with Mangala and Otamendi but brought his team-mates into the game equally well when he had the ball at his feet. Another goal capped off a fine display.

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Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Hart 7 out of 10

Equipped himself rather well considering the porous nature of his backline, as time and again he was called upon to make close-range saves when his team-mates allowed opponents to burst through. Might have done better for the second goal though, when Giroud fired through his legs.

Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Sagna 5 out of 10

After so many years at the Emirates you might have thought Sagna would know not to allow Walcott to cut in on to his right, but that’s what he allowed him to do. Though Arsenal rarely attacked down the left when they did they got plenty of joy against a slow Sagna.

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Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Otamendi 4 out of 10

He lacks for nothing except application, and it showed tonight as Giroud found that simply wanting the ball more than his disinterested opponent would ensure he won it. On one occasion he seemed to simply fall over rather than bother competing with Giroud.

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Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Mangala 4 out of 10

At times this was a display of staggering incompetence from a player valued at over £30 million just a year ago. They’d do well to get a tenth of that after a display in which he gave the ball away in critical areas time and again, contributing decisively to Arsenal’s second.

Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Kolarov 6 out of 10

A decent display, at least compared to his team-mates. He bombed forward with purpose and did his best to repel the dangerous double-act of Bellerin and Campbell.

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Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

De Bruyne 6 out of 10

A performance packed with bright moments but hardly game-changing ones, for instance when he burst through on Cech’s goal before dragging his shot wide when Silva was well-placed. An almost anti-Walcott display; lots of possession, minimal output.

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Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Toure 5 out of 10

City’s engine room was running on fumes tonight. Though his running looked like that of an injured man he might then at least have focused his attentions on defence, but too often he allowed failed to keep up with Ozil. In many ways his goal only served to enhance the frustration he brought, why wait 80 minutes to do something so brilliant?

Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Fernandinho 5 out of 10

On so many occasion he seemed to be caught out from behind by an Arsenal player challenging from the ball as he was one of several players to not show the required intensity for a top of the table match. He scarcely moved from the middle third of the pitch in attack or defence.

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Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Delph 5 out of 10

No surprise whatsoever that he was hooked off at half-time. Pellegrini had said his role was to offer cover down the left, but he never tamed Bellerin’s forward runs and was muscled off the ball by Campbell.

2015 The Arsenal Football Club Plc

Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Silva 5 out of 10

Not the only player to look lacking in match sharpness; even his famed passing was off the mark too often. Well-tracked by Flamini but he never forced the issue by dropping deep or moving wide.

Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Aguero 5 out of 10

Despite several days of first-team training he did not look remotely fit enough for this game and was overpowered and quite easily managed by Mertesacker and Koscielny, though in his defence his team-mates gave him little to work with.

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City have not yet indicated how long the player will be sidelined but a two-month lay-off would see him miss the opening Champions League fixtures and a potentially crucial clash against Liverpool on 7 October.

A statement from the Premier League champions read: "Kevin De Bruyne is undergoing tests on his right knee after sustaining an injury at training on Wednesday.

"The extent of the problem is not yet known and we will bring you further updates on Kevin's condition in due course."

De Bruyne, one of the stars of last season's title success, only returned to full training last week after a delayed summer break following the World Cup. He featured as a second-half substitute in the league campaign-opening win over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium last Sunday.

Kevin De Bruyne is expected to miss up to three months with a knee injury (PA)

The injury could be similar to one De Bruyne suffered during a game against Everton in 2016, when he was ruled out for nine weeks.

Kyle Walker (right) believes Manchester City have enough squad depth to cover the loss of De Bruyne (PA)

Speaking at the premiere in Manchester city centre, team-mate Kyle Walker said: "Kevin is a great player and it's just unfortunate that it's happened to him in training but there's more than enough depth in the squad.

"We don't just rely on one player. It's a team game and whoever steps in will do well. Obviously it's a big loss but we've got more than enough cover."

City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan said of De Bruyne: "He played an incredible season.

"He had so much impact on our game. He was maybe the main man for us last season.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was in attendance for the documentary premier (PA)

"He is very important. We all hope that it is not too serious so he can get back on the training field as soon as possible."

City are next in action against Huddersfield at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, their first home game of the campaign.

Gundogan said: "We couldn't beat Huddersfield at the end of last season, so we are even more motivated. Hopefully we are going to get the three points."

PA

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