Phil Foden is facing a crucial season in his career as he strives to fulfill his potential and establish himself as one of the world’s top footballers. Despite being a regular in Manchester City’s first team, the 23-year-old has not quite lived up to the immense hype he generated as a young prodigy.

Pep Guardiola, who has managed some of the game’s greatest talents including Lionel Messi, once hailed Foden as the most talented player he has ever seen. However, the young midfielder has often found himself on the bench, unable to secure a spot in the starting XI ahead of players like Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva.

Foden’s individual impact has been questioned by former Premier League striker Darren Bent, who believes that he wouldn’t even make it into Arsenal’s side. Bent acknowledges Foden’s talent but argues that players like Gabriel Martinelli have been in better form and deserve the spot.

The situation is similar for Foden in the England national team, where he faces competition from the likes of Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford. Despite making his debut at the age of 17, Foden has struggled to become a key player for both club and country.

Since joining Manchester City, Foden has benefited from training alongside the club’s most talented stars and has become a reliable member of the team. However, Guardiola’s rotation policy has often seen Foden used as a substitute rather than a regular starter.

Guardiola has expressed his trust in Foden and believes that the young player is still developing. He attributes Foden’s occasional struggles to physical issues and emphasizes the importance of handling setbacks in a positive manner.

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher, on the other hand, believes that Foden needs to step up and reach his full potential now. He points out that despite key departures from the team, Foden still couldn’t secure a starting spot against Arsenal in the Community Shield.

Foden will turn 24 at the end of the 2023/24 season, an age where most players are expected to reach their peak. This season will be crucial for Foden to silence his critics and prove that he can live up to Guardiola’s high praise.

If he fails to do so, Foden may join the list of players who never quite fulfilled their potential as global superstars.

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The football world continues to marvel at the rapid rise of Gabriel Martinelli at Arsenal. After clinching an £6 million move from Ituano in the summer, the 18-year-old has become a regular in Unai Emery’s lineup, largely in the absence of several of the Gunners’ first team stars.

However, there is another youngster who has caught the eye; Manchester City’s Phil Foden. The 19-year-old has been long hailed as the next big talent to emerge from the Etihad ranks, with Pep Guardiola going out of his way to support him in recent months.

Given his impressive form at the Premier League giants, many have been wondering if Foden could be in line to replace Martinelli at Arsenal. The question of whether the English teenager is good enough to beat Martinelli into the Gunners starting XI is an interesting one.

At this stage, there can be no doubt that Martinelli is the more advanced of the two players. He is already establishing himself as a regular in Emery’s first team, having made 17 appearances across all competitions this season. He has also scored an impressive 10 goals already, proving himself a fantastic asset for the club.

This is in stark contrast to Foden, who is yet to truly break into the City first team. He has started just three of his side’s league games this season, and is subject to competition from the likes of David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Riyad Mahrez and Bernardo Silva.

At this stage, the answer is clear; Martinelli is the superior of the two players. He clearly has the edge over Foden, and is a player Emery is more than happy to rely on for his first team. However, in the future, it could be an entirely different story.

Given the backing of Guardiola, Foden certainly has a bright future ahead of him. With time and experience, he will no doubt close the gap on Martinelli and may even challenge the young Brazilian for a place in Arsenal’s lineup.