Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was unsure on the eve of the English Premier League' biggest game of the season so far whether Erling Haaland will be available to face Arsenal.
The prolific Norwegain striker was substituted at halftime in City's 3-1 win over Aston Villa on Sunday with what Guardiola at the time described as a "knock."
Haaland took part in a recovery session on Monday but Guardiola could not say if the league's top scorer, with 25 goals, would be fit enough to play on Wednesday night in London - the first league clash between the top two sides this season.
"Right now, I don't know," Guardiola said on Tuesday.
The teams are separated by three points and City could go into top on goal difference with a win, although Arsenal has a game in hand.
While saying it was an "important" game, Guardiola attempted to play down its significance with City, the defending champions, having 15 more games to play.
"I have the feeling many things are still to happen," Guardiola said. "The FA Cup and Champions League is a knockout and we'll try to arrive for the last 8-10 games in the Premier League being there. This is the target.
"I would say tomorrow would help us to be there in those 8-10 games."
City beat Arsenal 1-0 in the FA Cup last month, though that match was at Etihad Stadium and the visitors fielded a slightly weakened team.
Guardiola believes this is the strongest Arsenal team he has faced since joining City in 2016.
"So far it's the best team in the Premier League -- they've made an incredible first (half) of the league," he said.
"We felt it a few weeks ago when we played the FA Cup here how committed and sharp (Arsenal was). It will be a big battle in all departments."
Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal manager and Guardiola's former assistant, was still fuming about Brentford's equaliser in their 1-1 draw on Saturday.
Referees' body PGMOL has apologised to Arsenal after "human error" was to blame for the incorrect VAR decision.
VAR operator Lee Mason did not draw the guidelines to check for offside prior to Ivan Toney's headed equaliser.
"It wasn't human error, it was not understanding your job," said Arteta.
"That's not acceptable, I'm sorry.
"It cost Arsenal two points that are not going to be restored so we are going to have to find those two points somewhere else in the league."
Former City striker Gabriel Jesus is still recovering from knee surgery and misses out again.
With agencies
