With both clubs likely needing a bit of a relief from challenging form elsewhere, the FA Cup offers some respite. This midweek, Jose Mourinho could do with a win – but so could much beleaguered Norwich coach Daniel Farke. The Portuguese and German coaches have struggled this season to ignite the kind of performances they would have hoped for – Mourinho especially. Could a deep cup run help to allay some of the talk around either manager not being the long-term solution after all?

Spurs News

Spurs are doing OK at the moment – though nothing more than OK. A win of three runs on the spin was broken up by a pair of losses against Chelsea and RB Leipzig respectively. The club are suffering with injuries, too, primarily up-front but also elsewhere.

The squad somehow looks imbalanced and thin at the same time, with a lot of uncertainty in key positions. They lack firepower up front at the moment too due to injuries. Perhaps we could see a young player given a shot, such as Troy Parrott. Otherwise, expect an attacking midfielder to play up-front.

Norwich News

The Canaries are in decent enough shape in terms of injuries for once, at least in terms of injuries. Having spent most of the season it feels in an injury crisis, they have just the four players out for the game. They’ll be short of important players, though, with Sam Byram and Christoph Zimmermann missing out for sure, and Timm Klose still out for the long-term.

The club isn’t in great shape in terms of performances, though. Recent form has seen them pick up a mere one win in their last six, and the club has lost four of those. They aren’t in a great place, in truth.

Verdict

Spurs win. Don’t expect many goals in this, though; Norwich are nowhere near as prolific as some might have hoped given earlier performances. Spurs lack any kind of real firepower for now, too, so it’s hard to see this being more than a 2-goal game. Expect Spurs to see it through, though both managers probably want out of the competition sometime soon to focus on league consolidation. For Norwich, though, this might be their last chance eat some joy out of a fairytale gone sour.

Chelsea fans have for some time waited for their club to give youth a chance. Given the way the club has been built in the Roman Abramovich era, though, it’s easy to see why experience often wins out over youthful endeavour. However, in Mason Mount, the Blues might just have a talent on their hands who could change that for good.

What makes him so special?

Without being harsh on British players, what makes him stand out so much is that he plays in such an un-British manner. Though his physicality is definitely something that has to improve, Mount has become a regular goalscorer in the Championship and for his country at youth level.

An incisive passer with an eye for goal, and with a good range for picking out when to shoot and when to pass, Mount displays technical gifts far in excess of what you would expect. His maturity for one so young is very impressive, too; it would be hard to say much negative about his game. His smart, slick passing will fit in well with a Chelsea side well-accustomed to keeping the ball moving and progressing.

Any concerns or doubts?

In terms of his physical prowess, that would be his biggest concern and weakness. Still quite a slight young player, his tackling needs work and he’s more or less a man down when it comes to rough and tumble midfield battles. When he does tackle, it often leads to a foul – his tackling needs some serious work.

Still, he’s not going to get in the Chelsea side to kick ankles; he’ll be there to play passes and make the play tick. For Mount, the physical disparity in his game will be fixed with age and gametime. When that comes, the Blues could have a real star on their hands – and one of their own, too.

When Wolverhampton Wanderers stormed into the Premier League, expectations were high that they would spend big. The club was in the market for some impressive young names, but a fantastic debut season in the Premier League has seen the club go even further in terms of ambition. They’ve picked up a very impressive number of signings. Including Jesus Vallejo of Real Madrid. Arguably the most impressive, though, is that of Patrick Cutrone of AC Milan.

What makes him so special?

Cutrone is a very interesting striker, and one who should both compliment and, when needed, replace Raul Jimenez. A player who does not slow down and who does not conserve his energy, Cutrone does not hold back whatsoever when it comes to opposition defences. He works hard, he chases down opponents, and he manages to get into good striking positions.

His passing is crisp as are his general layoffs, making him a very interesting player to watch. Wolves fans will get a committed forward who can score goals and who can get involved in the build-up play, as well as harry defences and force mistakes.

Any concerns or doubts?

Where his biggest problems lie though are in the air and when it comes to his foul rate. Cutrone gives away too many fouls, with his constant pressing often leading to mistakes and thus giving away foul when his team need to build up a head of steam. He is, though, more than young enough to get over that issue and start becoming a more consistent presence from a defensive viewpoint.

Given his small frame, too, he is not great in the air; this is where he would most likely differ from Jimenez who is a far more bullish, target-like forward. If he can continue to work on his defensive contribution, though, there is nothing to say that Cutrone could not become a regular fixture at the top end of the Premier League charts.

Despite what you read in the press regarding Mauricio Pochettino’s unhappiness at Tottenham Hotspur’s lack of transfer activity, one major signing is already in the door. The arrival of Tanguy Ndombele offers a bit of a game-changer in the middle of the pitch; a player who combes outstanding physical prowess with technical smarts far in excess of what one might expect.

What makes him so special?

The former Lyon man has enjoyed a rapid rise to the top, having exploded into his current role. Two seasons at Lyon has produced a rounded player who is excellent on the ball. His dribbling can be exceptional at times, often powering through midfield without the ability for opponents to stop him. His indefatigable style mixed in with technical prowess and an awareness of where his teammates should be makes him an excellent player to watch.

His passing, too, is brilliant at times. He spots crucial passes, takes out the opposition defence with ease, and is known for being able to open up teams. 7 assists in Ligue 1 alone last year is an example of how rounded his game is for a player who isn’t in the team for goals.

Any concerns or doubts?

Speaking of goals, that is the one major concern with Ndombele; a single goal came last year. If Spurs wanted to add more goals into the midfield, Ndombele does not do that. He will not see them score more goals in terms of directly from himself – he is, though, a good provider.

Another slight concern will be his ability to lose concentration when a game slows down a touch. In the hustle and bustle of a game he’s usually fine, but he’s had a few interesting mistakes when his mind has wandered. That, though, should improve with age and experience – especially under Pochettino.

Arsenal Football Club are, without a doubt, one of the biggest clubs in England. They are also one of the most parsimoniously run. You often hear people tell you that ‘football is a business’ – and few clubs showcase that more than the Gunners. However, one positive of the last few years is the growing number of academy kids who have grown into the squad.

Say it quietly, but the one who might be likely to make that step-up next is young Joe Willock.

What makes him so special?

Really, it’s hard to pin down one attribute with Willock. Having already played in the UEFA Europa League final, he’s got top flight experience far beyond someone of his age normally. However, he’s also made a big impression in early pre-season games for Arsenal, with the 19-year-old having already made a big impact on the USA tour.

One thing that makes him stand out is that he appears to be a rapid learner. Already, Willock looks a more rounded player than last year. His developmental rate is very impressive, and manager Unai Emery has been very quick to talk up his ability to learn and progress.

If there is one thing that should really put Willock in the spotlight, it’s that ability to improve and grow to a whole new level without much gametime. That’s an important attribute for a player who might not see huge amounts of gametime this year.

Any concerns or doubts?

Really, the doubts are with his club rather than the player himself. Arsenal have endured rather than enjoyed the summer window, and now look set to have a tough fight for UEFA Champions League qualification on his hands. Willock might find himself playing at the top-end for a club who’s struggling to justify their place at the top.

That can be tough for a youngster, so the concern is more likely to be that he could get engulfed in another negative Arsenal season rather than any specific doubts about quality.