Significant Rodri injury hands Arsenal major boost in title race

The knee injury which forced Rodri off in the first half of Arsenal's chaotic 2-2 draw with Manchester City is set to keep the midfielder out of action for a significant period of time.

Rodri, who was making his first Premier League start of the season on Sunday, succumbed to a non-contact knee injury when trying to make a near post run from a City corner. Thomas Partey tracked the Spaniard stride-for-stride, but the Ghanaian did not cause the injury.

“Rodri is a strong man,” Pep Guardiola said after John Stones had salvaged a point against the ten-man Gunners. “If he leaves the pitch in this action, it is because he felt something, otherwise he would stay there.”

Guardiola hinted at a serious issue, and various reports have suggested a torn ACL will keep him out for the remainder of the season.

Significant Rodri injury hands Arsenal major boost in title race

The Athletic are yet to confirm a timeline for Rodri's, but it's clear that City's lynchpin will miss a 'significant period of time' in what's a huge boost to Arsenal's title hopes.

Sunday's contest shifted after Rodri exited proceedings with City 1-0 ahead and dominating. Riccardo Calafiori's stunning maiden Arsenal goal restored parity against the run of play before the inevitable Gabriel overturned the visitors' early deficit. A controversial Leandro Trossard red card on the stroke of half-time saw Mikel Arteta park his bus in front of David Raya's goal for the duration of the second half, and his side defended superbly before John Stones poked home at the death.

Still, there were plenty of reasons to be encouraged by Arsenal's showing at the Etihad, and some of the comments from the City stars post-match depicted a team that's well aware of the threat the north Londoners pose. Arteta's men are coming for this league title, and the likely absence of Rodri for the remainder of the season has handed the Gunners a major boost.

City lost three of the four games they played without their superstar holding midfielder last season, with Rodri's stellar campaign thrusting him into Ballon d'Or contention. His injury is a monster blow for the Cityzens, and Pep Guardiola will surely change tack in a bid to mitigate the Spaniard's absence.

We're barely a month into the new season, yet the past 24 hours feel significant in the context of the title race. Is this Arsenal's title to lose?

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