3 possible De Bruyne alternatives Arsenal and Arteta must prepare for

Add as preferred source on Google

Arsenal take on Manchester City following the international break, and the Gunners may need to prepare for an enforced midfield change by Pep Guardiola.

City maestro Kevin De Bruyne is reportedly an injury doubt for the game after being substituted against England for Belgium on Sunday.

The 29-year-old has returned to his club as he is not fit enough to face Iceland (BBC Sport), and there is a chance he might not play against Arsenal.

City have depth, but they also have other injury problems. Here are three ways Guardiola could replace the superstar:

Phil Foden

Perhaps the most likely way for Guardiola to cover any De Bruyne absence.

Foden has spent a lot of time out on the right wing lately, and sometimes the left, but there’s a good chance he’d be moved in-field if De Bruyne couldn’t play.

It would be up to new Gunners star Thomas Partey to keep the 20-year-old quiet.

Bernardo Silva

If Guardiola wishes to keep Foden wide, then Bernardo Silva might be the central choice to replace De Bruyne.

The Portuguese dribbler has played in the middle plenty of times in his career, and has the technical quality to cause Arsenal problems.

Ilkay Gundogan

Maybe the least likely move Guardiola will make if De Bruyne can’t play, but an option for the City boss nonetheless.

Available for selection again after quarantining, Ilkay Gundogan is usually associated as someone who sits deeper to pull the strings, but he can also operate as a box-to-box midfielder.

He doesn’t quite have the same drive or power of De Bruyne, but he’s certainly capable of breaking the lines with his passing similar to how the Belgian does.

There’s a chance he’ll play as the most advanced midfielder, with Rodri and Fernandinho holding.