PEP GUARDIOLA ADMITS MAN CITY ARE "STRUGGLING" AFTER ASTON VILLA DEFEAT

Pep Guardiola says his treble winning side are "struggling" after Aston Villa beat them 1-0. Leon Bailey's deflected strike extended City's winless run to four consecutive games.

Man City were without star man Rodri, and lost their fourth game in a row without him in the team sheet. Guardiola said he had to find a way to win without the Spanish midfielder, as they are yet to do so this campaign. However in the 16 games that Rodri has played in, Manchester City have won all of them.

Unai Emery's Aston Villa extended their unbeaten run at home to 14 matches, they've turned Villa Park into a fortress and the league Champions were the most recent team to be defeated on their turf. The result meant Villa leapfrogged City in the league table, Emery's men are now in third position.

Arsenal go to Villa Park this weekend hoping to end their spectacular home record, they haven't lost to Villa away from home since February 2021. Manchester City travel to Luton where they are expected to return to winning ways.

Written by Isabelle Newnham