Manchester City vs Arsenal: Ilkay Gundogan assures fans he is 'still alive' after pre-match tribute

Ilkay Gundogan has reassured Manchester City supporters that he is “still alive” after his team-mates paid tribute to the injured midfielder on Sunday.

The 26-year-old is likely to be sidelined for the rest of the season after tearing knee ligaments in last Wednesday’s 2-0 Premier League win over Watford.

In honour of their unavailable team-mate, City’s players wore ‘Gundogan 8’ shirts back-to-front as they walked out for Sunday’s meeting with Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium.

The gesture led many onlookers to suggest that Pep Guardiola’s players were over-reacting and behaving as if Gundogan had passed away, and the tribute was mocked widely on social media.

Gundogan, however, was all well and fine and after watching City’s 2-1 victory from the stands, he jokingly assured supporters that reports of his death had been greatly exaggerated.

“Thanks to my teammates & of course - congrats to my boys to this crucial win against #AFC PS: Don't worry - I'm still alive,” he wrote on Twitter.

Gundogan has a chequered fitness history, having previously missed a full year after sustaining a back injury at former club Borussia Dortmund.

The Germany international also underwent surgery on a dislocated knee cap earlier this year, which saw miss his national team’s run to the semi-finals of the European Championships in France.

Gundogan, who arrived at the Etihad in the summer in a £20m deal, turned in several impressive performances prior to his latest setback and was named City’s Player of the Month for November by the club's supporters.