Pep Guardiola hints at major line-up alteration for half-time interval of Arsenal showdown this weekend | OneFootball

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has hinted he could make significant alterations to his line-up against Arsenal on Sunday afternoon, during the half-time interval.

It comes after the Premier League champions made two alterations during the half-time break against Brentford on Saturday afternoon, with the scoreline in Manchester City’s favour following an Erling Haaland brace in response to a Yoane Wissa opener.

That contest saw Josko Gvardiol and Rodri come on in the places of Rico Lewis and Mateo Kovacic respectively, whilst the midweek clash with Inter saw Phil Foden replace the injured Kevin De Bruyne, and Ilkay Gundogan take the place of Savinho on the field.

Speaking after the 0-0 draw against Inter Milan this week, and the decision to make a double half-time substitution for the second match in a row, Guardiola suggested that supporters were witnessing a new version of himself and his in-game match management.

“It’s a new version of Pep, yeah,” Guardiola said. “I was criticised because of six substitutions, and I didn’t make any substitutions. Now I make substitutions at half-time. And against Arsenal I will do the same.”

Guardiola was then asked whether the increased number of alterations lately is a reflection on just how difficult it is proving to be to select the right starting line-up for Manchester City at present.

“No, it’s just that sometimes I don’t like it and I have weapons (on the bench),” he insisted.

“The reason why is we needed it against this structure of 5-3-2 and the two strikers in (Mehdi) Taremi and (Marcus) Thuram, and after Lautaro (Martinez) went with Rodri, they didn’t allow us to find this pocket of space.

“But always we can find it. And that’s why I need a player for different specifics, and that’s all.”

Pep Guardiola could be forced into making one selection change ahead of the visit of Arsenal, with Manchester City yet to find out the severity of Kevin De Bruyne’s apparent groin injury sustained against Inter on Wednesday night.

The Belgian could become the third injury problem to be balanced by the Manchester City manager in a number of weeks, having already seen Oscar Bobb and Nathan Ake ruled out for long periods of the season.

The latter is expected to make a return to action around the time of the next international break in October, whilst the Norwegian forward may require additional time to recover having sustained a fractured bone in his leg prior to the Premier League opener against Chelsea.