‘Man City to let Phil Foden leave as Mikel Arteta to consider Arsenal reunion’
Mikel Arteta has been tipped to bring Phil Foden to Arsenal this summer as the playmaker continues to struggle at Man City.
The 25-year-old midfielder endured a difficult 2024/25 campaign, much like most of his teammates, starting just 20 league matches and notching nine goal contributions in the Premier League.
Having recorded 27 goals and 12 assists in the season before, it has been a far cry from the usual standards set by the England international, with Man City fans slating Foden’s performances.
Pep Guardiola‘s side went without silverware for the first season since the 2016/17 season, the Catalan’s first in England, with a multitude of new signings now being made at the Etihad Stadium.
With deals for Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders, and Omar Marmoush being signed in the winter, fans have called Foden’s future into question, and Tony Cascarino believes Arteta could take advantage of the situation.
Phil Foden to Arsenal mooted as Man City struggles continue
Speaking on talkSPORT (14 June), Cascarino said: “Obviously, Arteta worked at Man City with Phil Foden and for whatever reason, I’m sure we’ll find out down the line, Phil Foden just hasn’t been the player we know him to be this season.
“From where he was the Football Writers’ Player of the Year the season before, his performances this year have just not justified that.
“But all that’s happening at City and all the spending that’s gone on, I wouldn’t be surprised if Foden is allowed to go somewhere. Whether City let him go to Arsenal, I don’t know.
“But they let Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko go there. If Arsenal could get him, I think Arteta would really consider that, yeah.”
Mikel Arteta desperate to make statement signings this summer
Football Insider verdict
Arteta came under heavy fire from Arsenal fans after being knocked out of the Champions League semi-final by PSG, only managing to lift a single piece of silverware since his arrival in 2019.
The main element missing from the Gunners’ starting lineup was an out-and-out, world-class, dangerous centre-forward; instead, they had a makeshift striker in the form of Mikel Merino.
While Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus have both chipped in with goals, Arsenal appear to be leading the race for Viktor Gyokeres this summer, which would finally hand Arteta the final piece of his puzzle.
Although Foden is not a striker, his playmaking ability would allow Arteta to choose between him and Martin Odegaard, who suffered from a dramatic fall in quality and form throughout the season.
It is highly unlikely that the Citizens would sanction the exit of one of the club’s greatest-ever academy products, but the 25-year-old’s game time could be limited next season if his current form continues.
Foden’s situation is a very worrying one for City fans this summer. A number of exciting new talents have joined the ranks, and it remains to be seen quite where the midfielder fits into Guardiola’s plans.