The French international now has time to show some of his old Arsenal form in Silva’s absence.

With Manchester City being returned a David Silva that will  miss both today’s game against West Brom and a crucial Champion’s League game against Ajax, Mancini will be counting on another talisman to make them tick.

Creating 15 assists last season, the Spanish international was the Premier League’s best when it came to creating goals. Silva is Mancini’s favourite when it comes to the attacking midfielder position, who is master when it comes to controlling possession and creating passes that cut through opponents defense.

But without him for the next two games, next in line will be Frenchman Samir Nasri to prove he can fill Silva’s boots. Last year Silva played 2020 passes compared to Nasri’s 1587, averaging more key passes, goals and assists.

However Nasri is capable of fulfilling this now missing part in Manchester City’s line up, proving time and again that he can be the key man to win games. As he did with Arsenal in the time he was there.

So we will see in the game against West Brom if Nasri can fight for his place in City’s starting line up.