Blow for Manchester City as Ballon D'Or Contender Rodri Faces Season-Ending ACL Tear: Reports

Manchester City and Arsenal staged a stunning 2-2 draw in an exciting match at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, September 22, 2024. In the ninth minute Erling Haaland started the home team's score; nevertheless, Riccardo Calafiori quickly equalised Arsenal in the 22nd minute. Just before half, the game changed dramatically when Gabriel Magalhães put Arsenal ahead in the 45th minute and Leandro Trossard of Manchester City was sent off in the 45+8th minute. John Stones rescued a draw for Manchester City with a spectacular equaliser in the 90+8th minute, therefore extending the action into stoppage time. While Arsenal showed perseverance with only 22% possession and 5 shots, Manchester City dominated possession with 78% and registered 33 shots in the game, therefore displaying amazing statistics.

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Rodri is set to miss the rest of the season owing to a reported ACL suffered in Manchester City vs Arsenal 

Early in the first half of the game against Arsenal Rodri suffered an injury. Currently a top candidate for the Ballon d'Or, the midfielder has been a vital component of Manchester City 's championship-winning team.

Tests confirmed Rodri tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee during the 2-2 tie with Arsenal, and the report from ESPN states that Rodri will probably miss the rest of the season. Although further investigations are planned, preliminary results point to a major damage and he could require surgery in Barcelona. He can be sidelined for up to nine months in result.

Manchester City secured a last-minute equaliser from John Stones, maintaining them atop the Premier League standings with 13 points from five games. The main setback, however, came when Rodri had to leave the field after hurting his right leg during a corner kick. Early in the first half, the Spanish international stumbled obviously in discomfort.

Rodri left the pitch under City Medical Team assistance and was replaced by Mateo Kovacic. Rodri, who helped Spain win, was voted player of the tournament at Euro 2024; he is also among the Ballon d'Or top contenders this year. Prior to this, the 28-year-old voiced worries about the amount of work that athletes must do and implied that they were "close" to breaking. He played 63 games for both club and country last season; his calendar stretches all the way to the Euro 2024 final on July 14. Speaking on the as quoted by several media channels Rodri said: 

"I think we are close to that; it is easy to understand. I think it's something general. I think if you ask any player, he will say the same -- it is not the opinion of Rodri or whatever. I think it's the general opinion of the players. And if it keeps this way, there will be a moment where we have no other option, I really think, but let's see. I don't know what's going to happen, but it's something that worries us because we are the guys that suffer."

Rodri will be missed by the club in the next match of Manchester City which is against Watford on Thursday, September 25, 2024, in the 3rd Round of the EFL Cup.