There were plenty of dramatic and emotional moments in the draw between Man City and Arsenal last weekend, one of which was the moment Rodri lay clutching his thigh in pain after a collision with Thomas Partey.
After the match, although Man City has not made an official announcement, it is likely that the 28-year-old midfielder has suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. This type of injury, if sustained, can require 9-12 months off. In addition, when he returns, his form may never be the same as before.
Arsenal came to the Etihad Stadium as the defending champions. However, the visitors barely posed any danger in the early stages of the match. The Gunners even conceded the first goal. To get that result, Man City still had to rely on the familiar rebound from the bottom of midfield, that is Rodri.
Before Super Sunday last weekend, Rodri had only lost once in 18 months for both club and country. The Spanish midfielder's role is even more important than that of conductor Kevin De Bruyne. Man City without De Bruyne can still confidently win, but without Rodri, that is not certain.
After Rodri left the pitch due to injury, Arsenal gradually regained control of the game and took a 2-1 lead, before being forced to defend after Leandro Trossard was sent off. Man City then pressed the pitch with a possession rate of 97% and suffocated their opponents. However, with the way into the penalty area completely blocked, they had no choice but to find opportunities from the second line of play.
When Man City won the Champions League for the first time, it was also from a rebound that Rodri scored the only goal in the final against Inter. Last weekend, Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, Mateo Kovacic and many other home team stars could not have such a thunderous shot. If Rodri had been on the pitch, as this midfielder has done many times, Man City might have had a comeback in the second half.
Last season, De Bruyne missed 4 months due to injury but only when Rodri was absent did Man City taste defeat, even 2 consecutive matches in the League Cup and Premier League. In the context of Arsenal getting stronger and Liverpool still stable under the hands of Arne Slot, it is not known that the crisis period has begun to hit Man City after the recent Super Sunday match.
Last season, the only match Man City won without Rodri was a defeat of newcomers Luton Town. The remaining three matches without the Spanish star, the reigning Premier League champions lost. So far this season, Man City have won their first three matches without Rodri. Perhaps that result has given many fans the feeling that the urgency of Rodri is no longer there. However, this may be wrong.
This season, Man City welcomed the return of Ilkay Gundogan. The concern about the lack of a star player to cover the midfield has been temporarily alleviated. The first important match ended in a draw. The answer to how important Rodri's absence is, Man City fans may know in the near future.
