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 360gist.com.ng understands 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 for the visit of the treble winners.
Gabriel Jesus was selected with Leandro Trossard (Gabriel Martinelli was only fit to come off the bench and, in the end, score the winning goal) and Eddie Nketiah playing up top.
The Gunners played out the perfect tactical suffocation of City and limited them to very few opportunities with Erling Haaland not having a single shot.
If Saka is fit though he will start as Arsenal look to claim their first league win at the Etihad under Mikel Arteta’s tenure. He, like Foden, has been so good this season that he is another candidate for the accolade of the season’s best.
Perhaps the main message is the need to address the depth in the right-wing position. England might be better off with the likes of Jarrod Bowen starting, perhaps Cole Palmer when fit, instead of Foden and Southgate is blessed with that level of depth, Arteta however is not.
Arsenal lack the right-wing strength at the moment and Arteta faces a selection headache without Saka.
That said, the optimism remains that, at least for now, he will not need to make that decision with the 22-year-old looking hopeful of making the trip to the northwest.
