Soccer

RODRI is out for the season after undergoing surgery on a knee injury.The midfielder was forced off against Arsenal and will be sidelined until the end of the season.Rodri is out for the season after injuring his kneeCredit: GettyManchester City confirmed this week Rodri had damaged ligaments in his right knee.And manager Pep Guardiola has now revealed he will miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on his ACL.He said: “Surgery this morning, ACL and meniscus and next season he will be here. This season is over. “Unfortunately we got the worst but these things happen. We will be there to support him in his recovery step-by-step.”What he gives us, we don’t have a similar player. But the others can all together replace what Rodri has given since his arrival to us. We will have to do it as a team and find a way to play a lot of matches without an important player for us.”Rodri, 28, travelled to Barcelona to see a knee specialist and an examination revealed ligament damage to the joint.His injury is a big blow for City, who have struggled without the Spaniard in the past.The Cityzens did win their first three Prem games of the season without him, with Ilkay Gundogan and Mateo Kovacic deputising, but boffins reckon City will lose the title without him.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSWhat will happen to Man City?MAN CITY are favourites to win the Premier League title yet again – but there is one elephant in the room that threatens to put the skids under the Etihad giants.Sunsport’s MARTIN LIPTON discusses what the next few months could hold with Head of Sport SHAUN CUSTIS….Custis: So the big question – will there be a resolution this season?Lipton: Yes…. probably! We know the case will start to be dealt with in October or November.It will take at least a month to go through the evidence. So I suspect around March, April time, we will get a result. But that’s where it starts to get tricky.Custis: Why is that?Lipton: If the result is in City’s favour, that’s the end of the matter. They will be cleared. They will have no punishment to face.But if City are found guilty, these will be the heaviest penalties ever imposed by the Premier League.I suspect if they are found guilty, they will be expelled from the league or given a massive points deduction and a huge fine so that they’re not in the Premier League next season.Check out the full discussion on Man City’s future.According to Opta, City have only lost 11 per cent of their games with Rodri in the team, and 24 per cent without him.Based on that, it’s been calculated that City will finish on 80 points this season.Rodri lands in Barcelona for further medical tests after Man City star suffers ‘suspected cruciate ligament tear’The last time a team won the title with that number was Manchester United in the 2010/11 term, with Arsenal managing 84 points and 89 points in the last two seasons.Pundits Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher also named Rodri as the player whose absence could most negatively affect City.Neville said: “I was thinking, ‘who is he going to put in there? How is he going to play to compensate for the loss of this probably talisman type figure?’ “I think of only [Erling] Haaland probably that you could take out of the City team that would damage them as much as Rodri.”I know [Kevin] De Bruyne’s there, I’m not ignoring him, but if you were Arsenal and you could take one player out of the City team, because they’ve lost [Julian] Alvarez you’d take Haaland out probably number one, you’d probably take Rodri out number two.” More

FANS have been left amazed by a stats comparison between Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo following their respective £100million-plus moves last summer.Arsenal made West Ham captain Rice, 25, their record signing over a year ago when they splashed £105m on the defensive midfielder.Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo’s stats this season have been comparedCredit: GettyThe pair both cost upwards of £100million when they joined their respective clubs last yearCredit: GettyBut Chelsea spent even more on Caicedo, 22, handing Brighton a Premier League record £115m fee.Rice settled down quickly enough at Arsenal and eventually helped them to an impressive second-place finish.While Caicedo struggled to settle under Mauricio Pochettino before showing signs of his talents in Chelsea’s final few games as the Blues finished sixth.Now, stats have emerged showing Rice and Caicedo’s starts to the new season.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLArsenal have made a good start again, winning three of their five matches while remaining unbeaten to bag 11 points.But Chelsea have also looked strong with new boss Enzo Maresca, sitting one point off Arsenal with one defeat to champions Man City.Rice and Caicedo have both been at the heart of matters since the campaign kicked off last month.Yet the stats show that Caicedo is having a much better individual season so far than his Arsenal couterpart.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSFor starters, the Ecuadorian has featured in all five of Chelsea’s league games so far, with Rice only making four appearances following his controversial red card against Brighton.As a result, Caicedo has clocked 122 more minutes on the field.Premier League’s Biggest Spenders: Top 10 SeasonsAnd while neither man has scored a goal yet, Chelsea’s holder already has one assist to his name over Rice’s zero.Caicedo is impressing in playmaking too, completing 252 passes to Rice’s 84.Of Caicedo’s passes, 85 have been attacking forward passes compared to Rice’s 31.Arsenal’s man is also beaten in the touches department with 142, while Caicedo’s 364 emphasises the difference in style between Maresca and Mikel Arteta.And Rice also loses out in ALL of the vital defensive areas too.He’s made just ONE tackle all season, while Caicedo has stopped an opponent 21 times.The ex-Brighton man has also won more fouls with nine to Rice’s two.In terms of duels won, Caicedo leads Rice 38-nine.And he has also won six aerial duels to Rice’s four.Finally, Caicedo has completed six clearances over Rice’s five.While he has also made nine interceptions to Rice’s three.And fans were amazed at seeing the huge gulf in key numbers.One said: “You know what’s most crazy? One tackle made in four games being a DM.”Another declared: “Caicedo has always been clear.”READ MORE SUN STORIESOne noted: “They’re both great players and both will have very good seasons.”Another added: “I prefer not to speak.” More

ARSENAL fans are convinced Leandro Trossard has been handed a unique punishment by Mikel Arteta.The winger was sent off against Manchester City on Sunday after being shown two yellow cards.Fans are convinced Leandro Trossard has been handed a unique punishment for his red cardCredit: ReutersThe winger was seen carrying drink coolers as he arrived at Arsenal trainingCredit: x / @ArsenalHis second booking came when Trossard booted the ball away and delayed the restart.The Gunners had been leading 2-1 during the closing stages of the first half when Trossard saw red.However, they went on to concede an equaliser deep into second half injury time as the match ended 2-2.Trossard is understood to have later told his team-mates in the dressing room that he had not heard the referee’s whistle.READ MORE ON ARSENALMeanwhile, fans have speculated on social media that Arteta has handed out a unique sanction to the Belgian for his dismissal.The 29-year-old was spotted arriving for training at the club’s London Colney base this week.Unlike his team-mates, though, Trossard could be seen carrying a pair of drink coolers as he walked into the building.Although unclear if it was his own choice, fans were quick to joke he has been made waterboy as a punishment.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSAfter seeing footage of Trossard’s arrival, one supporter wrote: “Is he on ice cooler duty cause of his red card?”Another added: “Can’t believe the punishment is so hilarious.”Arsenal vs Manchester City: Player Ratings BreakdownHowever, despite fans joking about Trossard’s coolers, it is thought he simply carried them into the training ground of his own accord.The former Brighton man will be available for selection again this weekend after serving his one-match suspension in midweek.Having missed the Carabao Cup win over Bolton, he could return against Leicester on Saturday.The Gunners are looking to continue their unbeaten start to the season, which has them fourth in the table and two points behind leaders City.Trossard has appeared in each of their five league matches, starting the last three, and scored off the bench against Aston Villa in August.Trossard was sent off during Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Manchester CityCredit: Getty More