Kevin De Bruyne misses Manchester City's clash against Manchester United just days before Arsenal visit the Etihad Stadium.
The midfielder sustained a shoulder problem during last weekend's Carabao Cup final victory over Aston Villa and subsequently missed the 1-0 FA Cup fifth round win over Sheffield Wednesday three days later.
Although, City boss Pep Guardiola had been hoping to call upon the midfielder at Old Trafford.
"He is getting better," the Spaniard said in his pre-match press conference. "Today we didn’t train and tomorrow he will improve.
"This morning he was with the physio and he said he feels better.
"Not perfect, but he feels better.
"We will see."
But when the City team was announced an hour before kick-off, there was no sign of De Bruyne in the matchday squad let alone the starting line-up meaning he's watching the derby from home.
It could be that Guardiola has decided not to risk De Bruyne with the Arsenal clash on the horizon.
The game on Wednesday marks Arteta's first return to the Etihad following his decision to leave his position as Guardiola's assistant head coach to take up the main role at Arsenal.
His side will go into the game on the back of two successive wins as well as keeping two clean sheets and Arteta has joked that January loan signing Pablo Mari is key to keeping City out.
"Good point, I'll take your advice then. If it's as simple as that hopefully he'll do it again at Manchester City and he'll get a clean sheet," Arteta said. "But no he's doing well, he's adapting really well.
"It's not an easy league and the central defender in my opinion to play in the Premier League is one of the toughest positions to play for any foreign players.
"But he's very willing, he's learning and has a very good experience and understanding with his teammates."
