Pep Guardiola has defended Manchester City's recent injury record, claiming the Blues aren't the only team suffering as a result of the intense fixture schedule.
City's involvement in the Champions League this season means they are regularly playing three fixtures per week and injuries have mounted in recent weeks.
Kevin De Bruyne sustained a muscle injury on international duty with Belgium and joined Aymeric Laporte, Gabriel Jesus and Benjamin Mendy on the treatment table.
City were boosted by the return of Sergio Aguero against Arsenal following five months out but the Argentine suffered a fresh problem during the weekend's draw with West Ham and is set for another spell on the side lines, while Fernandinho and Nathan Ake are also sidelined.
Guardiola defended City's injury record, claiming they aren't the only team to be suffering from an increase in absentees.
"We are not an exception compared to the other teams competing in Europe," he said. "We’re on the same schedule.
"Now it is recovery, preparation, recovery and preparation. We don’t have time to train much. Yesterday, everyone got the statistics that in the Premier League. We have 47 per cent more muscular injuries than the same period last season.
"It's not just about City, it's about everywhere. If people can reflect on this, protect the guys, it will improve. If they don't, it will increase. We will arrive in a few months in January and I guess it will be the same.
"It has increased a lot because it is normal. We have to protect the players as much as possible. The strongest will survive, the others will fall down."
Guardiola was forced to substitute Kyle Walker due to exhaustion against West Ham and stressed the physical demands is tough on his squad.
He added: "It’s tough for the players themselves. We have enough players with our academy. A week is not a problem when you play in four competitions every three days. It's more difficult but it’s not a City problem, it’s a problem for everyone in Europe playing in European competition.
"It’s an exceptional thing around the world, but it is not exceptional in world football. You have to adapt and handle it and move forward with what we have. The reality is what it is. If it is much more than the previous season, it is because this is normal."
