Manchester City have been handed a major boost ahead of their match against Arsenal, with defender Kyle Walker's injury considered "not too serious".
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City to face Arsenal in crunch clashWalker limped off during England-BrazilInjury deemed "not too serious" after testsGetty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?
The full-back pulled up early on in England's friendly with Brazil on Saturday and was forced off after just 20 minutes with an apparent hamstring injury. Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate admitted after the 1-0 loss that Walker isn't a player "who gets injured often", while Walker aired his "frustrations" at the setback. Pep Guardiola has since been left sweating ahead of a top-of-the-table clash with the Gunners on Sunday, but tests on the hamstring problem have revealed it isn't as severe as first feared.
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That's according to , who report that Walker's injury is "not thought to be too serious". They add that City are "hopeful" the 33-year-old will be ready to face Arsenal in that crunch Premier League encounter at the weekend. The hamstring issue is described as being "tight" rather than a "strain", with progress on Walker to be monitored over the coming days.
(C)Getty ImagesDID YOU KNOW?
That news will be a major blow for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal's title bid, as both teams sweat on their star players returning from injury setbacks. City man Kevin De Bruyne didn't link up with Belgium to focus on his own rehabilitation, while Gunners ace Bukayo Saka withdrew from the England squad for similar reasons.
WHAT NEXT FOR CITY & ARSENAL?
League leaders Arsenal take on third-placed City in one of the most important games of the season on Sunday, as those result looks set to shape this year's title race. Defeat to either will be a major setback in their respective bids for league glory, while a draw will allow second-placed Liverpool to pounce when they face Brighton an hour earlier in the day.