Actually, what I really think about this Manchester city team is that they are not as efficient as they were last season, compared to this season, if efficient is the right word to use, so if most of their top players is absent due to injuries, it's really going to bite them hard because they can't replace such qualities, regardless of the debth they have in their squad.
And as for their quest for the title, I really don't think they can win it, because their are so many tough fixtures ahead of them which arsenal will be the first, and with the absence of most of their key players, I really do think they will struggle in that game, so getting a win from that game will be even more difficult with the absence of those top level players like de bruyne an co.
There is no other choice but to continue playing with the available players because injury is a risk factor that cannot be avoided. Many great teams are like that. That's why you should never rely on one or two great players; if they are injured, there is no other solution than to accept that fact. If Manchester City forces injured players to remain on the field, it will make the injuries more fatal and cause more harm to Manchester City. At least for now, there are still a few days ahead that are sufficient for Manchester City to form a team that can be used to compete against Arsenal at the end of the month.
Even though they cannot appear with a full squad, there is no reason for them not to try as hard as they can to win the match. I can't say that they will fail to defend their title this season, but I also can't say that they will succeed in defending their title, because after all, both opportunities are still very open to them. There are still 2 clubs that are competing very closely with them and it is not yet certain whether they will succeed or fail in this very tight competition.
In fact, Manchester City also has an even squad depth, although it won't be like their main players, but at least they don't have any significant differences. Now it's just a matter of how the coach prepares it all, and he must be able to ensure that the players he trusts to play can give the best performance they have. Before the competition ends, there are still opportunities during that time. This applies not only to Manchester City, but also to Liverpool and Arsenal. Especially when the distance between them is very close, it is possible to change only a difference of 1 point.