Pep Guardiola’s problems with squad selection in recent weeks have not been helped by Ederson’s injury sustained by Manchester City against Liverpool earlier in March, but he may be returning against Arsenal.

Following Nathan Ake’s mishandled backpass attempt that allowed Darwin Nunez to score for Liverpool, Ederson tackled the Uruguayan striker and gave up a penalty at Anfield, albeit he also hurt himself in the process.

After an international break during which he was not called up to the Brazil squad, he missed the FA Cup match against Newcastle, and supporters have been wondering if the 30-year-old will make a comeback to the team. And it seems that their prayers were heard because Ederson seemed well before Mikel Arteta’s men arrived.

Manchester City: Ederson’s most recent injury

In an unexpected boost for City, the goalkeeper might start against the Gunners.

Ben Dinnery, the creator of the website Premier Injuries, claims that the shotstopper will be “OK” for the Gunners’ visit, and Erling Haaland will be eligible to play after starting in both of Norway’s games during the international break.

The injuries that Kyle Walker, John Stones, and Manuel Akanji sustained while playing for their countries will have a significant impact on the title fight if they do not recover quickly. Guardiola will not be pleased to see three of his defenders out of action, and Matheus Nunes may also be sidelined due to an injury he sustained while playing for Portugal.

Ederson could easily return to the starting lineup after missing the match against the Magpies two weeks ago, so City can take a little bit of comfort in his decision to not be called up to the Selecao.

Manchester City’s best news could be Ederson’s return.

The Brazilian is essential to Manchester City’s style of play.

It’s no secret that Guardiola has high standards for his goalkeepers, and Ederson is no exception, having previously been praised as “outstanding” by the City manager. Victor Valdes, whose stint at Barcelona saw him practically function as an extra defender, revolutionized the job of goalkeepers, and as a result, his sides are far more adept at maintaining possession. Ederson will be essential to Guardiola’s wheel since he will be one of his three defenders missing of the game due to injuries sustained during the international break. This will put even more pressure on City to control the ball in order to prevent Arsenal from getting opportunities.

After having Manuel Neuer among his teammates at Bayern Munich, the Spaniard brought Joe Hart to Manchester City. Because Hart wasn’t the best goalkeeper with his feet, the Englishman was promptly sent out to meet Guardiola’s demands. Ederson departed Benfica to join City in 2017, and the club hasn’t looked back since. The Brazilian is a vital member of their storied teams that have won numerous awards in England.

Thanks to his heroics during City’s collapse in Istanbul, Ederson was named one of the players of the match in the Champions League final last season. He has also won five Premier League crowns, two FA Cups, four Carabao Cup medals, and of course, the title.