Well we have heard from the managers now, with both doing their usual niceties talking about each other, which we’ve all come to expect given how close they are as friends. Pep did a little flippant comment about how if Mikel wins the league it is not because of him or his team, but because of the money spent, in a clear jibe at the way City are portrayed in the media. But that was about as tetchy as it got.

I do think both managers doing their team updates was funny. Mike, was talking about how he wasn’t sure about Saliba, how he was ‘pushing’ to be fit, but given he was on the bench in Tuesday I’d be surprised to not see him start. You’re up against Haaland who is arguably the world’s greatest finisher, so you need your best players and as amazing as Mosquera has been, let’s not forget how important it is to see Saliba and Big Gabi take on the Norwegian.

On the other side of the fence in Manchester, Pep was talking about how he’s not sure whether Rodri can play three games in a week, with very much a “we will have to see” narrative to the assembled press pack. Again, like Mikel, pull the other one Pep, it’s got bells on. Rodri was pulled on 60 minutes on Thursday night, clearly to preserve him for this weekend’s game, so he will 100% be playing from the start tomorrow.

On Ødegaard, Saka and White, Arteta talked about how they’ve been on modified training sessions and although he wouldn’t confirm they are out, he did admit they are doubts. As usual he said “let’s see how they are tomorrow (Saturday)” but I would be surprised if any of them are going to be fit tomorrow. Remember when Ødegaard was injured last season on international duty? I think we played the Scum away in the next game and Arteta said he wasn’t sure, but in reality he was very sure; there’s no way Ødegaard was going to get near the team bus back then and I think the same is true of certainly Saka tomorrow. He’s not played for about a month, he’s not trained, which means they’ll need to build his fitness back up. Same with Ben White, really, but perhaps Ødegaard we have a slim chance. He’s been training and playing recently, so the sharpness in his body should still be there. The question will really be about how much his mobility is impacted with his shoulder, rather than how fit he is in terms of match sharpness.

I do think it’s important he plays if he can though. I’ve listened to a couple of pods ask the question about Ødegaard, suggesting perhaps that Nwaneri is doing enough to take his place on a more permanent basis. I’m not so sure of that. Ethan has been great against Leeds and a Forest side working out who they are going to be under Ange, but Man City is a different beast. If Ødegaard isn’t fit I do wonder whether Arteta will go with the physicality option in Merino, rather than the creative dribbler in Nwaneri.

I’m not trying to bag on Nwaneri here by the way. I think he’s a sensational footballer and I really hope we can the rise of an Arsenal great in him. But he is still just 18 and he is a different type of footballer to Ødegaard. Martin is the relentless pressing trigger, but I don’t think that we saw that from Nwaneri when he came on last weekend, so I think what we have is a different set up when Nwaneri plays. In these games with the best teams in the country coming to your gaff, you need to have everyone know their role in the team precisely, because how one player behaves and reacts, impacts how other players interact with him on the pitch. Nwaneri will be a dribbler, a carrier of the ball, less of a pass-master through the lines kind of guy. So if Ødegaard isn’t fit to play, do Arsenal change their style and approach and try to be more direct with somebody like Merino? Or do they hand the keys to Ethan and lean into those strengths.

I don’t know, but regardless what happens, it is a relief to not be talking about injuries tanking our season. Gyokeres is doing well in Kai’s absence, same with Madueke for Saka and Mosquera for Saliba. But I’m not sure we’ve fully cracked the Ødegaard replacement just yet. So I’m hoping he’s fit and can start on Sunday.

Of course we could potentially use Eze in that central position, but I’m not sure Arteta will do that, nor do I think it will get the best out of him. Eze played centrally for England against Andorra and whilst I know it’s a very different game because they just played low block football – which City will not do tomorrow – I think Eze likes to start from wide positions and drift in, rather than to start from central positions when play starts to build up. Arteta could, probably should, be looking at our hybrid double pivot that we’ve been adopting with Rice and Zubimendi, but the question then remains on that final piece. Whether it’s Eze, whether it’s Ethan, or even Merino (which would probably be my least favourite approach, because I don’t think he has the creativity for that position that we’ve want), at least we have the options. That’s a positive.

The rest of the press conference didn’t really bring up too much that I think is worth deliberating over if I’m honest. Arteta said nice things about Tim Lewis departing, as you’d expect, but his message about how much it would impact him and the team was pretty much what you’d think he’d say “we move on”.

And so shall I for the day. It’s my last day in Crete before I fly back tomorrow afternoon so I’m going to see if I can relax and sit by the pool. Have a good one kids.