Robinho doubtful for City

Posted Saturday, September 12, 2009 by PA

Manchester City are sweating on the fitness of Robinho ahead of the Barclays Premier League clash with Arsenal.

The Brazilian suffered an ankle injury on international duty last week and, while City boss Mark Hughes does not think there is any extensive damage, scans will determine whether he is involved at Eastlands.

Craig Bellamy is expected to keep his place as Carlos Tevez (knee) has been ruled out, while Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure face their former club for the first time.

Manchester City boss Mark Hughes has warned Arsene Wenger he will win nothing with pretty football.

Two weeks after he accused Manchester United of playing "anti-football" against the Gunners at Old Trafford, Wenger takes his team across town to Eastlands, where old boys Adebayor and Toure lie in wait.

Wenger once accused Hughes of rearing a side that "had an appetite for violence" when the Welshman was boss at Blackburn and judging by his most recent remarks, the Gunners chief's views on teams who do not play the pure brand of football he believes in have not changed.

Yet Hughes is unconvinced that teams can be successful without a harder edge to their game, using his own team as an example to prove the point.

"Arsene has a fantastic philosophy. Everybody in football appreciates it," said Hughes. "We are trying to reach the heights he has reached. They have players who can win games with a flash of inspiration.

"I know we have the capability to play football as expansive and creative as Arsenal. But you can't be successful if you just have that kind of player. Last season was an illustration. At times we played fantastic flowing, open football. But against certain other types of teams we could not compete."

Arsenal will be without midfielder Andrey Arshavin (groin) for the trip, but captain Cesc Fabregas is expected to return from a hamstring problem.

Winger Tomas Rosicky played for the Czech Republic in midweek, but may still be short of full match fitness.

Theo Walcott (back) has returned to training, while defender Johan Djourou (knee), winger Samir Nasri (broken leg) and reserve goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski (knee) are all out.

Wenger insists he has no regrets over seeing both Adebayor and Toure leave Arsenal for Manchester City.

Much has been made of Hughes' unprecedented summer spending spree at Eastlands, bankrolled by their new Middle East owners, as he looks to quickly compile a squad capable of challenging the top four.

Some #41million of that went to the Gunners for the services of their Togo frontman and long-time defensive stalwart Toure, who is likely to captain City.

Wenger, though, would not be drawn on the reasoning behind the transfers - amid reports of dressing-room unrest involving Toure and William Gallas, and suspicions Adebayor moved on financial grounds.

"There are no hard feelings for Toure or Adebayor," the Arsenal manager insisted. "I always wish my former players to be happy.

"It is part of life that players move on. That is not a reason that you want them not to be happy. I am extremely confident they will be and wish them well."