Pep Guardiola delivers fresh Phil Foden injury update and team news ahead of Arsenal FA Cup tie

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has provided a key update on the fitness of Phil Foden, after the Englishman missed Sunday’s 3-0 win over Wolves with a foot injury.

Foden sat on the bench for City’s win over Tottenham and was left out completely against Wolves on Sunday after picking up a foot injury against Manchester United earlier this month. Pep Guardiola said at the weekend that Foden’s injury flared up again before the Wolves game and offered no guarantees that the winger would be available for the cup clash with Arsenal.

Speaking before that tie, Guardiola confirmed that Foden is getting better, but said a decision on his involvement vs Arsenal would only be made after Friday’s training session.

“He’s getting better. We train this afternoon,” Guardiola said.

“Everyone else is good,” he added, with Ruben Dias potentially in line for a first start since the World Cup after recovering from a hamstring injury. Stefan Ortega could also come in for Ederson in goal as City’s ‘cup goalkeeper’.

Guardiola also challenged his side to show they are capable of competing with Premier League leaders Arsenal, despite this being a knockout tie in a different competition.

He said: “It is a different competition, the FA Cup, it is a final. And, of course, more than Arsenal to prove ourselves how is our level.

“When the team makes 50 points after the first leg [first half of the season] it is because they have been the best. We have to prove how far away or how close we are and the best is to perform our own level. Otherwise it will be difficult.”