The Wayne Rooney Show

Are Arsenal starting to crack when it matters most? Will Trent be on the plane to the World Cup? And can Spurs stop the slide, or is this turning into a full-blown collapse? Wayne takes on a huge weekend of football, asking the questions everyone is thinking.

After Manchester City’s cup final win, Wayne breaks down Arsenal’s performance and whether the defeat could have real psychological consequences in the title race. Is it just a setback, or something deeper? And what is going on with Bukayo Saka? With City finding form again, are they ready to hunt Arsenal down?

Wayne also looks at the players at the centre of it all. He reacts to Phil Foden’s situation - why does one of England’s biggest talents suddenly feel sidelined? There’s praise too for Nico O’Reilly, plus reaction to Newcastle’s derby defeat, Sunderland’s rise and a warning to Newcastle fans over Eddie Howe.

At the bottom, Spurs suffer another damaging defeat - but is this now more than poor form? Are they genuinely in danger? Wayne gives his verdict, before turning to Tuchel’s England squad - why is Trent missing and should Welbeck return?

Wayne reflects on the best midfielders he ever played with - from Steven Gerrard’s dominance and how he would have wanted him at Manchester United, David Beckham's quiet leadership and Lampard’s timing in the box.

Wayne looks at Roy Keane’s authority, Michael Carrick’s understated control and why Scholes’ football brain set him apart. There’s high praise too for Ji-Sung Park, the relentless engine who stopped Andrea Pirlo and how players like Darren Fletcher and Owen Hargreaves played key roles at Manchester United.

And which opposition midfielder stands out to Wayne? And what is his ultimate midfield line up?

Wayne reflects on Max Dowman’s breakthrough moment for Arsenal and explains why those first moments can stay with a player forever. He also discusses how young players should be supported, balancing the hype around them with the need to protect their development based off his own experiences at 16.

Wayne also addresses the discussion around Anthony Gordon's post-match comments after Chelsea and the role sports science now plays in team selection, explaining how different the approach would have been earlier in his career under Sir Alex Ferguson.

They talk about Bruno Fernandes’ influence and consistency during a difficult period for Manchester United and there's also praise for Liverpool youngster Rio Ngumoha, whose direct style and willingness to run at defenders has caught Wayne’s attention.

And what does Wayne think about Arsenal’s position in the title race? And why does he believe the race is not completely settled yet?