Football Apr 03, 2026

FA Cup quarter-final talking points: Spotlight on Max Dowman for injury-hit Arsenal, how strong will Pep Guardiola and Arne Slot go?

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
FA Cup quarter-final talking points: Spotlight on Max Dowman for injury-hit Arsenal, how strong will Pep Guardiola and Arne Slot go?

Man City vs Liverpool - Saturday, kick-off 12.45pm

There is still plenty of silverware for both Man City and Liverpool to win this season - so it will be intriguing to see if Pep Guardiola and Arne Slot go strong at the Etihad this Saturday lunchtime.

City, who have already claimed the first trophy of the campaign after beating Arsenal in last month's League Cup final, could be eyeing a domestic treble come the end of May. And after the club's recent Champions League exit, Guardiola will now have a rare free week with his players to prepare for their crucial next league game at Chelsea on April 12.

City should therefore field their strongest line-up this weekend, but that may not be the case with the visitors, who could still win an FA Cup and Champions League double themselves this season, however unlikely that may seem.

Slot has more selection dilemmas for his side's trip to Manchester, though, with Alisson Becker, Jeremie Frimpong and Mohamed Salah all injury doubts, while the Dutchman also has to factor in both Wednesday's Champions League last-eight game at Paris Saint-Germain and the visit of Fulham three days later as the Reds chase a return to Europe's premier club competition next season.

That trio of awkward-looking fixtures across three different competitions in a taxing seven-day spell means Slot will almost certainly have to juggle his playing resources at the Etihad, which may very well hand the initiative to the hosts in what is sure to be a closely-fought contest.
Rich Morgan

Southampton vs Arsenal - Saturday, kick-off 8pm

If Mikel Arteta has spent the international break stewing on Arsenal's Carabao Cup final defeat to Man City, his mood would not have been improved by an increase in injury issues through his squad.

The Gunners are up to double figures when it comes to players sidelined or a doubt with fitness problems ahead of this weekend. While some of those injured players may be able to turn out at Southampton, Arteta will also be wary of how he manages his resources ahead of a Champions League quarter-final first leg at Sporting on Tuesday.

Balancing his squad and selections will be key if Arsenal are to keep a Premier League-Champions League-FA Cup treble bid on track.

Could that all pave the way for 16-year-old Max Dowman to start? St Mary's would be a fitting venue for England's latest teenage prodigy to build on his recent goal for the country's U19s, having been the home ground of Theo Walcott when he made his breakthrough, also aged 16.

Southampton's own selections will also be interesting. They are unbeaten in 14 games and pushing for a Championship play-off place, with a huge game at Wrexham in that battle on Tuesday. How both managers prioritise this tie could be a decisive factor.
Peter Smith

Chelsea vs Port Vale - Saturday, kick-off 5.15pm

There is very little doubt that Chelsea will beat Port Vale at Stamford Bridge on Saturday night. The Blues have won each of their last 37 ties against lower-league opposition since they were shocked by Bradford City in the FA Cup fourth round in 2015.

They went on to win the Premier League that year, so that kind of calamitous afternoon could be written off as a one-off. Liam Rosenior, in dire need of some credit in the bank, does not have such a luxury on the back of four consecutive defeats.

Nothing less than a performance of domination and quality will appease those at Stamford Bridge against a side 61 places below them in the English football pyramid, who were hammered 4-0 by Wycombe in League One last weekend - but most importantly, have nothing to lose.

Rosenior will likely give some members of his wider squad game time to keep them fresh and avoid rushing his key players back after inter-continental travails over the international break.

This will pale into insignificance when Manchester City drop into west London a week on Sunday, live on Your Site, but ahead of that Rosenior needs something, anything, to raise the mood around Stamford Bridge.
Ron Walker

West Ham vs Leeds - Sunday, kick-off 4.30pm

Premier League survival is the priority for West Ham and Leeds, but a morale-boosting victory over a relegation rival for a place in the FA Cup semi-finals cannot be underestimated.

Just four points separate the sides with six games remaining and the pair face each other on the final day in a potential season decider. Sunday's tie provides the opportunity to make a statement before the run-in begins.

West Ham have not reached an FA Cup semi-final since 2006 before they famously lost to Liverpool in one of the competition's great finals. Leeds' wait for a spot in the last four has been even longer. It has been almost 40 years since they made the semi-finals in 1987 and they are already in rare territory making it this far.

Nuno Espirito Santo's Hammers have lost only three times in their last 10 games, to Aston Villa, Liverpool and Chelsea, and will hope winger Crysencio Summerville will return to fitness soon from a calf injury after playing a key part in that run.

Leeds' problems have been at the top end of the pitch recently, failing to score in their last four league matches although they did put three past Norwich City in the previous round.

Following the international break, this tie is about more than just a trip to Wembley with the run-in on the horizon.
David Richardson

Tags:

football news

Share this article

Related Posts

Pep Guardiola formally asked by Man City if he plans to honour his contract - Paper talk and football transfer gossip

Pep Guardiola formally asked by Man City if he plans to honour his contract - Paper talk and football transfer gossip

The top stories and transfer rumours from Thursday's newspapers...Barcelona are leading the race to sign Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva on a f...

Steven Pressley: Dundee wary of facing "wounded animal" Celtic as Rangers' Luke Graham interest met with Premier League vow

Steven Pressley: Dundee wary of facing "wounded animal" Celtic as Rangers' Luke Graham interest met with Premier League vow

Dundee head coach Steven Pressley believes his side must produce another “perfect performance” when they welcome “wounded animal” Celtic to Dens Park...

Chelsea 1-0 Arsenal (Agg: 2-3): Sonia Bompastor fumes again on VAR after Katie McCabe hair pull on Alyssa Thompson not reviewed in WCL game

Chelsea 1-0 Arsenal (Agg: 2-3): Sonia Bompastor fumes again on VAR after Katie McCabe hair pull on Alyssa Thompson not reviewed in WCL game

Sonia Bompastor once again took aim at VAR after the system did not review a Katie McCabe hair pull on Alyssa Thompson for a red card - with the Chels...

Scottish Premiership: Hearts, Celtic face away trips live on Sky Sports as Rangers bid to go top with Dundee Utd win

Scottish Premiership: Hearts, Celtic face away trips live on Sky Sports as Rangers bid to go top with Dundee Utd win

Ready for the next instalment of the gripping drama that is the Scottish Premiership title race? It is back to domestic matters after the internationa...

Champions League: UEFA backs officials after Chelsea's Sonia Bompastor criticism following exit to Arsenal

Champions League: UEFA backs officials after Chelsea's Sonia Bompastor criticism following exit to Arsenal

UEFA has no intention of changing the way officials are selected for Women's Champions League matches despite criticism from Sonia Bompastor.The Chels...

Chelsea 1-0 Arsenal (Agg 2-3): Sjoeke Nusken's strike not enough as Sonia Bompastor sent off in feisty end to Women's Champions League quarter-final tie

Chelsea 1-0 Arsenal (Agg 2-3): Sjoeke Nusken's strike not enough as Sonia Bompastor sent off in feisty end to Women's Champions League quarter-final tie

A dramatic final 15 minutes saw Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor sent off after Sjoeke Nusken had given the Blues late hope of a Women's Champions League...