Rodri will miss Arsenal clash as Manchester City accept the midfielder’s three-game ban in opting NOT to appeal his red card in Nottingham Forest win

• Rodri was sent off in City’s win after a clash with Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White
• He will serve a three-game suspension and will have to sit out crunch Arsenal tie
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Manchester City will not appeal against the three-match ban handed to Rodri for violent conduct, with the central midfielder missing the crunch visit to Arsenal in a fortnight.

Rodri saw red for raising his hands to Morgan Gibbs-White’s throat during Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest and begins his suspension on Wednesday when City face Newcastle in the Carabao Cup.

Manager Pep Guardiola was not in favour of appealing the decision — stating that the 27-year-old had to ‘learn his lesson’ — and that view has been mirrored by the club.

The Spaniard will also be out for Saturday’s trip to Wolves, with Kalvin Phillips hoping a strong display at St James’ Park can put him in contention for a rare start at Molineux. Guardiola is resting stars such as Kyle Walker and Ruben Dias against Newcastle, claiming that some are already ‘exhausted’ by the schedule.

City do have injury problems, with Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic among those who missed the weekend. Kovacic has since trained, with Guardiola set to make a call on the Croatian’s fitness for the third-round clash on Tyneside.

Rodri will miss Manchester City’s game against Arsenal after the club opted not to appeal his three-game ban

The Spaniard was sent off after a physical confrontation with Morgan Gibbs-White during City’s win over Nottingham Forest

Guardiola is set to rest a number of key players for City’s game against Newcastle in the Carabao Cup this week

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On the red card, Guardiola said: ‘Rodri has to control himself and his emotions.

‘This is what he has to do. I can get a yellow card but Rodri cannot get a yellow card. I do not play. The guys inside have to be careful.

‘Rodri needs to learn.’ 

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