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Phil Foden must seize his chance as Manchester City face Liverpool on Saturday at 12:45 pm BST. After two lacklustre starts for England under Thomas Tuchel, the 25‑year‑old has recorded only one assist in his last 22 outings for club and country. Dropped below Rayan Cherki in Pep Guardiola’s hierarchy and yet to complete a full 90 minutes since January, Foden’s performance in the FA Cup could determine his future at both City and the national team.Manchester City v Liverpool – Saturday 12:45 pm BSTEstêvão Willian offers Chelsea a welcome boost. Following a Champions League exit at the hands of Paris Saint‑Germain and a heavy defeat to Everton, manager Liam Rosenior faces a must‑win against Port Vale at 5:15 pm BST. The 18‑year‑old Brazilian winger, who impressed as a substitute against Everton, could inject the speed and unpredictability Chelsea need to lift a disgruntled crowd and revive a faltering season.Chelsea v Port Vale – Saturday 5:15 pm BSTKepa Arrizabalaga gets a second chance ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Southampton. The former Athletic Bilbao keeper was at fault for the decisive goal in the Carabao Cup final, yet manager Mikel Arteta has kept him as the starting goalkeeper for the FA Cup tie. A solid performance could cement Arrizabalaga’s status as Arsenal’s long‑term No 2, while a repeat error may see him lose the role to David Raya.Southampton v Arsenal – Saturday 8:00 pm BSTWest Ham’s cup run doubles as a survival rehearsal. The Hammers host Leeds United on Sunday at 4:30 pm BST, a match that could swing the relegation battle. Despite a recent victory over Brentford, injuries – notably to winger Crysencio Summerville – threaten to undermine their league campaign. Manager Nuno Espírito Santo must balance the morale boost from the cup with the need to keep key players fit for the Premier League’s final stretch.West Ham v Leeds – Sunday 4:30 pm BST

When asked before Arsenal’s win over Everton how the upcoming international break might affect his squad, Mikel Arteta stressed the club’s “good communication” with national team coaches and promised to make “the right decisions” after assessing each player’s condition. That cautious optimism was quickly shattered. Following the Carabao Cup final loss to Manchester City, a cascade of withdrawals began. William Saliba pulled out of France’s squad with a left‑ankle injury, and Jurriën Timber missed the Netherlands call‑up due to a lingering groin problem. Within 24 hours, Gabriel Magalhães (Brazil) and Leandro Trossard (Belgium) also withdrew, while Eberechi Eze was forced out of England duty because of a calf strain that kept him out of the cup final. Captain Martin Ødegaard, still recovering from a previous ankle‑ligament injury sustained on international duty, did not feature in the final and subsequently withdrew from Norway’s squad. Arsenal’s injury list continued to grow on Friday when Noni Maduke (England) and Piero Hincapié (Ecuador) limped out of their respective friendlies. Both are doubtful for the FA Cup clash with Southampton at St Mary’s, though the club hopes they may return sooner. Mid‑week, Martín Zubimendi became the eleventh Arsenal player to pull out of an international roster, citing pain in his left knee. The Spain midfielder has logged more Premier League minutes than any Arsenal player this season, edging out Declan Rice and Jurriën Timber. Despite the setbacks, Viktor Gyökeres showed full commitment to Sweden, scoring a hat‑trick in the play‑off against Ukraine and later netting the decisive goal against Poland. By contrast, Riccardo Calafiori returns to London after Italy’s 120‑minute defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina, a match that highlighted Italy’s ongoing World Cup qualification woes. Arteta’s dilemma mirrors the challenges faced by Sir Alex Ferguson in the early 2000s, when the Manchester United legend famously limited his players’ international minutes. The modern Arsenal squad, arguably one of the deepest in Premier League history, now faces a delicate balancing act: preserving player fitness while competing on three fronts – the league, the FA Cup, and the Champions League quarter‑final against Sporting Lisbon next week in Portugal. With the club already having contested over 50 matches this season and potentially adding another 15 if they reach both cup finals, the psychological impact of another major‑trophy loss could be significant. Arteta will need his remaining fit players to step up and deliver, or risk seeing the season’s ambitions slip away.

Arsenal manager Thomas Tuchel has defended Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka over their withdrawals from the England squad, citing '100% trust' in their integrity. The players were absent due to discomfort after the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City.Rice and Saka reported for training but continued to feel discomfort, prompting them to stand down. Tuchel emphasized that the pair wanted to be involved but were clearly uncomfortable. He understands the optics of multiple Arsenal players being unavailable or withdrawing from international duty but stressed his trust in Rice and Saka's honesty.The withdrawals come amid a busy schedule for Premier League clubs, which Tuchel sees as a threat to England's World Cup hopes due to player fatigue. He noted that scans on Noni Madueke's knee were 'slightly better than his feeling but he will be out for some days'.Jude Bellingham will not play against Japan as he recovers from a hamstring injury, while Jordan Henderson is unlikely to feature after following an individual program.

David Squires presents his unique visual perspective on the recent Carabao Cup final, where Manchester City emerged victorious over Arsenal in a compelling showdown at Wembley Stadium. The acclaimed cartoonist captures the essence of the match through his distinctive artistic style, focusing on pivotal moments that defined the contest.In his latest work, Squires examines the significant decisions that influenced the outcome, offering insightful commentary that resonates with football enthusiasts. The cartoon strips showcase the tactical battle between the two Premier League giants, with particular attention to the master-apprentice dynamic between the respective managers.One notable highlight featured in Squires' cartoon is the audacious performance of a young player whose cheeky antics and skillful play caught the attention of spectators and critics alike. The cartoonist effectively immortalizes these moments through his signature visual storytelling approach.The artwork provides a lighthearted yet perceptive take on the competitive nature of the cup final, illustrating how Manchester City ultimately secured their triumph over their London rivals. Squires' ability to distill complex match dynamics into accessible and entertaining visuals continues to make his work a favorite among Guardian readers.For those interested in exploring more of Squires' football commentary, the article includes links to purchase his cartoons and his latest book, 'Chaos in the Box,' which showcases his collection of sports-related artwork.

Viktor Gyökeres has articulated the hurt and defiance within the Arsenal dressing room following their 2-0 Carabao Cup final defeat by Manchester City and promised to use it as fuel in the club's pursuit of other trophies this season.Arsenal produced their worst performance of the season in the final, with nearly every player falling below their standard – with the possible exception of William Saliba. The period from the beginning of the second half until Nico O'Reilly scored his second goal in the 64th minute proved particularly difficult, as City established complete dominance, leaving Arsenal pinned back and struggling to mount any meaningful attack.The recovery mission has already begun, with some at the club hoping the international break will provide a timely change of environment and focus. For Gyökeres, there is also the matter of Thursday's World Cup playoff with Sweden against Ukraine in Valencia. If his country advances, they will face Poland or Albania next Tuesday for a place at the finals.Despite the setback, Arsenal remains nine points clear of City at the top of the Premier League, albeit having played one game more, and has progressed to the Champions League quarter-finals, where they will face Sporting. Their next domestic challenge comes in the FA Cup quarter-final at Southampton on the following Saturday."Of course, we don't feel great right now but it's not like we have a game in three days," Gyökeres said. "For sure, we will go again and be even more motivated for those games."The turning point at Wembley came when Arsenal's backup goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga – who Mikel Arteta started ahead of first-choice David Raya – dropped a cross to allow O'Reilly to score his first goal, although City had already established firm control of possession."We created some chances at the beginning of the game and then I think it was maybe 10 minutes from the break where they got the momentum," Gyökeres reflected. "I think they had the ball … maybe they didn't create so many dangerous chances but they had the ball a long time and it looked the same in the second half."Normally, when it's two top teams it can be like that [with the first goal being crucial]. In the moment of the game where they scored … yeah, it was difficult to get going afterwards."