How Rodri's red card could cost Manchester City the Premier League against Arsenal

Manchester City’s midfield dynamo, Rodri, is out of contention for the Premier League champions clash against last season’s runners-up, Arsenal. 

The 26-year-old saw red for violent conduct in the Cityzens 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest after he manhandled Morgan Gibbs White.

The Manchester-based side made it six straight victories in the Premier League this season thanks to a beautiful seventh-minute strike by Phil Foden after a marauding run by Kyle Walker to set him up.

Erling Halaand made it two in double the time, heading into an open goal from a Matheus Nunes assist—his first in Sky Blue.

City’s dominance was, however, threatened at the start of the second-half when a confrontation between Rodri and Gibbs-White provoked the Spain international into shoving his neck. The referee immediately awarded a red card, and VAR corroborated his decision. Forest pushed from there on but failed to make the advantage count, as City held on for maximum points.

The punishment for Rodri's infringement is a three-match ban, which would see him miss the EFL Cup clash against Newcastle and the league games against Wolves and Arsenal.

The Spaniard is one of Manchester City’s most important players, and that is evident in the sheer number of games he played in their treble-winning campaign last season (51).

Pulse Sports reported that City boss Pep Guardiola tagged the former Atletico Madrid midfielder as the best in the world in his position.

Arsenal were the closest challengers in their bid for a third consecutive Premier League trophy last season, and the Gunners have carried on that high level into this campaign. The absence of Rodri is no doubt an advantage for Mikel Arteta’s men, which could cost City in the context of the League title challenge.