A huge Premier League game was turned on its head after Manchester City saw Rodri go limp from the midfielder in great discomfort.
City had started their clash with Arsenal in red-hot form. An Erling Haaland header gave Pep Guardiola’s side an early lead, and it looked like the perennial Premier League champions were going to make an early-season statement against the team that have come closest of dethroning them in consecutive years.
But Rodri’s departure set the stage for a Gunners resurgence. 1-0 soon turned into a 2-1 lead, and Mikel Arteta’s men came within seconds of securing what would have been a monster win and three points, despite playing the entire second half with ten men
It was a performance that would have cheered Arteta, his team and a fan base seemingly in denial about his team’s mastery of some “dark arts”. Arsenal proved City’s equals in enemy territory, and their title aspirations have only been boosted amid speculation over the seriousness of Rodri’s injury.
Here’s the latest news Rodri’s long-term injury and when he might return to action.
Rodri went down in a heap and clutched his right knee after trying to make a near post run at a corner. Thomas Partey matched him step by step, but the Arsenal midfielder failed to make contact with the Spaniard.
Rodri’s knee buckled on the turf and he was shown to be in considerable pain while receiving treatment. The Spaniard was sent off, which Guardiola hinted after the game was the first sign of the seriousness of the injury.
“Rodri is strong. He leaves the pitch in this action because he felt something, otherwise Rodri stays there,” he said after the Chaotic tie 2-2. Guardiola did not know the severity, but reports emerged the next day suggesting Rodri had torn his ACL.
Manchester City have yet to confirm the widespread reports, with further evidence to follow. However, Rodri’s knee injury looks likely to keep him out of action for the long term.
This will depend on the severity. If initial reports of a torn ACL are confirmed, Rodri will be sidelined for at least six months.
Players can be sidelined for up to a year after full ACL reconstruction. Last season, for example, Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber missed almost the entire campaign after tearing his ACL on the opening weekend of the season. He did not make his second appearance for the Gunners until the final matchday.
The best-case scenario of a six-month absence brings us to the end of March as Rodri’s possible return date. However, there is unlikely to be a huge rush for the Spaniard to return for the sake of his career. If he has torn his ACL, he will most likely sit out the rest of the 2024/25 campaign.
Guardiola described Rodri as “irreplaceable” in March, but the City boss will have to find a way mitigating the likely long-term absence of Spanish.
Kalvin Phillips is no longer in town, but City may call on Ilkay Gundogan again following his return from Barcelona. The German previously shone as a starter before Rodri signed for the club, with Gundogan playing a key role in City’s 2018/19 title success. The experienced midfielder was also used as a deeper midfielder at times during the treble campaign.
John Stones has also had success playing in midfield alongside Rodri, but the Englishman has mainly performed in a hybrid role that involved moving between the center of defense and the pivot in midfield depending on whether City had the ball .
Can number 6 perform a more traditional function?
Instead of opting for a similar relief in the 3-1-6 configuration he has opted for at the start of the new season, Pep is more likely to deploy a double pivot in front of three defenders. Rico Lewis, Gundogan, Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes are all candidates for increased playing time.
