Phil Foden sends Arsenal's Bukayo Saka warning ahead of fitness race for Man City clash

Arsenal and Manchester City have been given the difficult challenge of a Premier League title clash immediately following the international break. Both teams have had players pull out from duty and with England’s 1-0 defeat to Brazil featuring just three players who are expected to be involved on March 31.

What was intriguing however about how both sides’ narratives meshed into the clash at Wembley was that, with Bukayo Saka pulling out of England duty due to what football.londonunderstands it to be a minor muscle injury, Phil Foden was instead opted for at right wing by Gareth Southgate.

He struck an isolated figure for much of the game, perhaps impacted by teammate Kyle Walker leaving the field of play inside 21 minutes due to an injury scare. But even then, a telling statistic from the game highlighted his struggles.

Despite playing the entire game and even switching into a number ten role when Jarrod Bowen was introduced on 67 minutes, he didn’t have a single touch in the Brazilian box. For a player who many are billing for the Player of the Season, this is quite a startling reality.

As a Gareth Southgate sceptic myself, there is certainly scope to lay the blame at the system which for the umpteenth time produced a dull and insipid display lacking in clear-cut chances being created. There is a warning to Arsenal though who despite believing Saka’s absence to be purely precautionary that the drop-off when he is not available can be detrimental to a point where it stunts a team.

The irony is of course that Arsenal have already both played and beaten Pep Guardiola’s side this season without Bukayo Saka in the squad. Injured in the UEFA Champions League defeat to RC Lens, he failed to beat the race against time to be ready