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Foden must seize opportunity
Phil Foden made two starts for England over the international break as Thomas Tuchel experimented with how the Manchester City attacking midfielder could be used at the World Cup. He played in a couple of positions but was ineffective in two collectively subpar performances from the Three Lions. It means he has one assist and no goals in his past 22 appearances for club and country in what has been an underwhelming campaign for the 25-year-old. He has dropped below Rayan Cherki in Pep Guardiola’s pecking order and has not completed a full 90 minutes since January. In the Carabao Cup final, Foden was permitted a late cameo, and it feels like this is the time when he should be making a difference in the final stages of the season. There are still trophies to be played for, even if winning the Premier League title would involve a huge turnaround against Arsenal. This means the FA Cup is the most promising prospect and Foden should be desperate to start and remind everyone of the world-class player he could be, especially against a Liverpool side who often struggle against smart No 10s. The next six weeks could be make or break for Foden’s City and international career, so he must seize every opportunity. WU
Estêvão can offer Chelsea welcome boost
Chelsea dare not lose this one. After being dumped out of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain and getting thumped by Everton, Liam Rosenior will be under immense pressure if Port Vale pull off an upset at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Rosenior has to get his side’s season back on track and he will be encouraged by Estêvão Willian’s return to fitness. The Brazilian winger came on against Everton and will energise a grumpy crowd if he starts against Port Vale. Chelsea need the teenager’s trickery, speed and unpredictability. Estêvão is only 18 but he can change the mood. It has been a tough international break for Chelsea. There have been mutinous comments from Enzo Fernández and Marc Cucurella. They have taken aim at the club’s project but Estêvão can divert attention to the pitch. JS
Second chance for Arrizabalaga?
Kepa Arrizabalaga knows his role as the cup goalkeeper but his failings at Wembley were part of Arsenal’s downfall in the Carabao Cup final. It is rare that the former Athletic Bilbao No 1 has the chance to play two games in a row but with the nature of how the fixtures have fallen, Mikel Arteta has a choice to make. Arrizabalaga’s mistake allowed Nico O’Reilly the easiest chance in the world to put Manchester City ahead and from then on there was only one winner. It was a simple cross that Arrizabalaga would have caught every time in training but the nature of the occasion and the pressure to perform for someone desperate for opportunities may have resulted in a momentary loss of focus. There was never any doubt that Arrizabalaga would start that game ahead of David Raya and no one mentioned that James Trafford was given the nod over Gianluigi Donnarumma. It was part of a strategy, rather than sentimentality, but the big question is whether Arteta will maintain faith in Arrizabalaga for the trip to Southampton. If he does, it will be a test of the goalkeeper’s nerve and whether he is the right man to be second choice in the long term. WU
Cup rehearsal for survival battle
This is a dress rehearsal for the final day of the Premier League season. Both sides are battling against relegation and survival could be on the line when they meet next month. On Sunday, there is a chance to strike a psychological blow. West Ham remain in the bottom three despite going on a good run. They are three points below Leeds, who have gone four league games without a goal before visiting the London Stadium. Leeds will hope that Dominic Calvert-Lewin has recovered from the disappointment of being cut from the England squad. The striker has scored twice since the turn of the year and needs to wake up. West Ham, meanwhile, need to consider how much the FA Cup matters. Victory over Brentford in the previous round came at a cost. Crysencio Summerville, so crucial in attack, suffered a calf injury and is targeting a return in next week’s vital game against Wolves. For Nuno Espírito Santo, the question is how to balance the positive energy created by a cup run against the need to ensure key players are available for key league games. West Ham do not have a big squad. It takes only one or two injuries to disrupt the flow. JS
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