The last game of the season is approaching, and the players are already dreaming of pina coladas and sandy beaches. Most of them anyway. It’s the time of the year when few clubs have anything to play for, and the ones that do are frantic and pumped up.

Aston Villa do still have something to play for – a big something, the FA Cup – but this weekend it’s Premier League duty. Villa are safe, and their opponents are the already-relegated Burnley.

So there’s not much to play for in this particular game. And Villa are in a tricky situation.

It’s not at all a bad situation, but every club goes through this in their last game before a cup final – do you play your best team and try to gain momentum before the final, or do you rest your players out of a mortal fear of an injury to your best and brightest?

Momentum is important, if you’re out of form you’re more likely to lose. Psychology is at work here and when things go wrong, they seem to go worse the next time. Bayern Munich are a good example of how having bigger fish to fry can hurt you big time. Bayern stopped trying in the Bundesliga post winter break, their league form suffered and they were dumped out of the Champions League fairly convincingly at the hands of Barcelona. The same thing happened last season when they faced Real Madrid.

You need to keep the form going because if you don’t, you’re likely to meet a team in form in the final.

Villa’s form, though, took a bit of a knock last week in their 6-1 humiliation at St Mary’s against Southampton. That might look like a shocker, something that will have hit their confidence and made it more difficult to get up for the final. Or it might really benefit them for the final.

The great thing for Villa after that horror show last weekend is the fact that they have another game before they face Arsenal at Wembley. They have a game now to put things right and find their feet again. Burnley are certainly no pushovers as they’ve showed this season, but after a heavy defeat, the best thing for Villa is that they’re playing against a weaker team – as evidenced by their relegation.

A win against Burnley would see the confidence soar before the final.

Last season, Hull City went into the FA Cup final on the back of some shocking league form – two wins in 11 games – and lost to Arsenal. This time around, if Villa win on Sunday they’ll have five wins in their last seven in all competitions. Arsenal meanwhile, have won only two of their last six.

It’s not all about form, of course, but it’s nice to have form going into the final. And against Arsenal, who are big favourites, Villa will need all the help they can get.

But this is the tough situation that Villa face. Since Sherwood has come in, they players have been on good form overall, but they’ve worked hard. Sherwood might be tempted to rest some players to keep them fresh for the final, but when you’ve just been trounced by Southampton you don’t want to have to wait a week before you can get out onto the pitch again to make amends. And you definitely don’t want to be trying to make amends at Wembley.

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But without resting some players, Villa’s key members of the squad might not want to play Burnley as wholeheartedly as they might otherwise. Burnley are a physical team who will work hard, and if the Villa players are worried about injuries then they’ll find it very tough.

That’s the balancing act for Sherwood. He can rest players to keep them fit, or win the game and gather momentum, but he knows it’s not as simple as that. Sherwood’s solace is the fact that Wenger is in exactly the same position. Short of form and worried about the fitness of key players.

So which do you prioritise – form or fitness?

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Arsenal have already signed one player this summer in Petr Cech for one of the key areas of their team that needed to be addressed if the Gunners are going to be challenging for the title next season.

But that doesn’t mean Gunners manager Arsene Wenger’s business is done just yet. There are other areas that Arsenal need to strengthen in, and these are right up the spine of the team. The key positions are in central defence where the Gunners need to strengthen, in defensive midfield and up front.

And what could be a better place to find this talent than the Bundesliga? Here are five top players the Gunners should be looking to sign this summer.

The first of these is Christoph Kramer, who is a German international defensive midfielder, but is also comfortable at centre-back.

Kramer is just 24-years-old and has already got 10 international caps with Germany. He has played his football on-loan at Borussia Monchengladbach for the last couple of years but is now hoping to nail down a permanent position at his parent club Bayer Leverkusen.

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He may be best known for his surprise World Cup final appearance where he was subbed early following concussion, but he is well known in Germany as one of their top young players. He is a midfield rock, strong at breaking up attacks and allowing his team mates to play, a typical good defensive midfielder and would be a good signing for Arsenal.

The second player Arsenal should be looking to sign is Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who would certainly address their striking problems.

Aubameyang is a well known player to English fans; he has incredible pace, can play out wide or up front and importantly for the Gunners, he scores goals.

He scored 16 league goals last season, mainly from the wing, but he is also fully capable of playing up front. The forward would get plenty more goals up top considering the chances Wenger’s side creates. The Gunners have already been heavily linked with the Gabon international already and for £28m it could be a fantastic deal for Arsenal.

Another player from the Bundesliga that the Gunners should look to sign is Wolfsburg’s Kevin De Bruyne. The former Chelsea man was one of the most creative players in Europe last season, scoring an impressive 10 goals and tallying a staggering 20 assists.

The Belgium international would prove to be a pricey transfer, but with those sort of numbers the Gunners would be getting a player capable of creating chances a plenty and is really a top drawer player.

Schalke whizkid Maximilian Meyer is another player with the potential to be a success in the Premier League; he is not exactly a household name as of yet, but he is expected to become one.

At just 19-years-old he has already been capped by Germany and has been a regular feature for Schalke over the last two seasons.

Meyer is an attacking midfielder and has already been compared to Mario Gotze and Lionel Messi, due to his dribbling abilities and lightening pace. He is a huge talent and will become a fantastic player

This next player is not quite as inexperienced and that is Borussia Dortmund’s Marco Reus, who would be the biggest signing of the lot.

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Reus is an outstanding talent, a German international and one of the best players in the Bundesliga. He has 25 caps with Germany and has regularly notched over ten goals a season from wide positions for Dortmund.

Reus is best known for his versatility, speed and his superb technique. And this versatility means that Reus could even be considered as a striking option for Wenger’s side.

He is of course more suited to the left wing, but is as equally able to play on the right or centrally due to his ability to control the ball with both feet. The German is a superb player and would be a huge signing for the Gunners.

If Arsenal can complete one or two of these deals then Wenger’s side would much improved for it.

Leeds United have recruited a new player to the squad in the form of Japanese midfielder Yosuke Ideguchi.

The 21-year-old has not yet finalised the switch from Gamba Osaka, but is expected to sign on the dotted line next week.

The midfielder will undergo a medical before completing the deal, but the club have confirmed that he will likely be sent on loan until the end of the season.

Ideguchi is expected to join Cultural Leonesa on a temporary deal due to the face that the J1 League only finished in December.

The young midfielder is not well-known on a broad scale, but he already has 10 international caps for Japan to his name.

Leeds fans gave their reaction to the news on Twitter.

As it stands, Thomas Christiansen’s side are sixth in the Championship table following a run of five wins in their last six matches.

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Next up for the Whites in the league is a trip to face Ipswich Town on January 13, but before that, the team will take on Newport County in the FA Cup this weekend.

Reported Arsenal target Jonny Evans scored as West Bromwich Albion picked up their first Premier League win since August by beating Brighton and Hove Albion 2-0 at the Hawthorns on Saturday, and Gunners fans have urged their club to sign the defender.

The Telegraph reported on January 8 that the north London outfit are keen to bring the Northern Ireland international to the Emirates this month, with the Baggies wanting around £25m for the player who has 18 months left on his contract.

The west Midlands outfit’s captain headed his side in front against the Seagulls on Saturday, before Craig Dawson secured a crucial three points for Alan Pardew’s side after the break.

Arsenal supporters were quick to have their say on the former Manchester United man’s latest display via social media, and while one said “sign Jonny Evans now”, another said “Evans is class”.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

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Bristol City centre-back Aden Flint put in an impressive display as his side was narrowly beaten 2-1 by runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final tie at the Etihad Stadium, and West Ham United fans have urged their club to sign the defender.

The Championship high-flyers were just minutes away from securing an impressive draw before Sergio Aguero struck late on, and Flint was a rock for the Robins at the back and made a remarkable goal-line clearance from a Raheem Sterling effort.

The 28-year-old has enjoyed another strong campaign for his team after a summer move to Birmingham City fell though, and as well as his defensive nous he has also scored six goals in 22 league games so far this term.

West Ham supporters were quick to have their say on the tall centre-half’s performance against Pep Guardiola’s men, and while one simply said “sign Aden Flint”, another described him as a “class act”.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

Manchester United starlet Tahith Chong scored once and generally impressed on his debut for the U23 side as they were beaten 3-1 by Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Wednesday night in front of a watching Jose Mourinho, and Red Devils fans have been quick to have their say on his display.

The central midfielder, who only celebrated his 18th birthday last month, scored his team’s goal as his energy and pressing forced the Spurs defence into a mistake, while his skill and all-round play will have certainly caught the attention of Mourinho in the stands.

With Michael Carrick retiring at the end of the season and Marouane Fellaini potentially leaving in the summer if he doesn’t agree a new deal, the Portuguese boss will be looking for more options in the middle of the park, and Chong could be one of those to get a call-up to the first team.

Man United supporters took to social media to give their thoughts on the teenager’s performance, and while one descirbed him as “Fellaini but with feet”, another said “Chong is so similar to Sane”.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

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Javier Hernandez’s arrival at West Ham United last summer was met with overwhelming approval from the club’s fans.

The Mexico international joined the East London outfit with a decent pedigree due to his previous spells at Manchester United and Bayer Leverkusen.

When David Moyes replaced Slaven Bilic as manager in November, things started to change.

Hernandez struggled for game time, and in his first nine outings under the Scotsman, the forward did not play a full 90 minutes.

It is only in his last three appearances in all competitions when the ex-United man has competed for the whole game, but that could be down to the fact that Marko Arnautovic has been injured.

There were rumblings throughout the widespread media that Hernandez could leave in January, but a transfer never came to pass.

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Now, during an interview with Radio Marca Claro, the 29-year-old has opened up about his relationship with the manager.

“We get along, there has never been anything, no personal problem, we have never had frictions, or those negative moments, we have not had anything. I’ve never had a problem with him or anyone, no personal problem, thank God. There will be people with whom I get along better than others, but that does not mean they are my enemies, the truth is that the situation [with Moyes] is fine, there is nothing wrong that I can say.”

The first piece of silverware for the 2017/18 season is up for grabs this Sunday as Arsenal and Manchester City prepare for the Carabao Cup final at Wembley.

Pep Guardiola’s side inevitably enter the 4.30pm kickoff as the favourites having obliterated almost everything in their path this season, but the Gunners will take comfort from their impressive recent record at the home of English football, and the fact City’s seeming invulnerability took a significant hit on Monday night as third-tier Wigan eliminated them from the FA Cup.

So, can Arsenal pull off something of an upset, or will the Carabao Cup become the first trophy of Guardiola’s immaculate City project? Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Sunday’s heavyweight clash…

Route to the final

Manchester City managed to avoid the Premier League’s big six before encountering Arsenal on Sunday but their route to the final has been far from straight forward.

Wins over Championship side Wolves and Leicester City both required penalty shootouts, while Bristol City gave City perhaps the biggest test they’ve had at the Etihad Stadium this season and were essentially only spared a shock exit by stoppage time goals in each leg. Curiously, City are yet to win any Carabao Cup match this season by more than one goal.

Arsenal’s semi-final double-legger with Chelsea represents the biggest challenge either finalist have faced in the Carabao Cup this season. Both were edgy encounters and the semi-final was essentially settled by two scrappy Arsenal goals at the Emirates Stadium.

That being said, Arsenal have also faced the most modest challenge of either finalist – a home tie with League One’s Doncaster. Additionally, while City’s route to the final has involved three away games, the first leg of the semi-final at Stamford Bridge was the Gunners’ only Carabao Cup outing on the road.

Form Guide

There’s no doubt Manchester City have produced the more consistent form leading up to Sunday’s final, winning four and drawing one of their last six outings – that draw being at Turf Moor where Burnley always give their opponents a game – while scoring more goals and keeping more clean sheets than the Gunners.

However, Sean Dyche’s side represent the toughest opponents City have faced during that time, whereas Arsenal have encountered Chelsea in the Carabao Cup semi-final and Tottenham in the Premier League.

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Likewise, for whatever doubts might linger over City after losing to Wigan, Arsenal enter the Wembley clash on equally suspect terms having narrowly avoided a shock comeback from Ostersund in the Europa League on Thursday night.

What will concern the Gunners most though, is the form of Sergio Aguero, who has netted six times in City’s last six fixtures, especially in light of the fact Arsenal have managed just one clean sheet during their last six.

Team News

With Henrikh Mkhitaryan cup-tied for Sunday’s clash, having represented Manchester United in the Carabao Cup earlier this season, Arsene Wenger will have to re-jig his attacking personnel this weekend, although we’re expecting the structure of the team to stay largely the same from the north London derby, with the Gunners deploying three in midfield and Mesut Ozil on the right-hand side.

It’s essentially a tossup between Danny Welbeck and Alex Iwobi for the left wing berth, but the latter appears likelier after being taken off early on Thursday night.

All in all, Arsenal look set to make seven changes from the side that lost to Ostersund, with David Ospina, Jack Wilshere, Hector Bellerin, Mohamed Elneny and Iwobi expected to keep their places in the side despite struggling to impress against the Swiss outfit.

While most of Manchester City’s starting XI picks itself at this point in the season, particularly the midfield, there are still a few points of contention.

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For starters, it’s unclear whether Raheem Sterling has recovered from a muscular problem to start on Sunday and with Guardiola privy to a more than capable alternative in Bernado Silva, it’s likely City won’t risk the England international from the start – he may have to settle for a role from the bench.

But the real selection dilemmas for Guardiola come in defence, particularly left-back with Benjamin Mendy still injured and Fabian Delph suspended after being sent off against Wigan.

The likelihood is that he’ll opt with the experience of Danilo over Oleksandr Zinchenko’s youthful creativity, and we believe that will be a common theme throughout the backline – with Vincent Kompany and Nicolas Otamendi coming in for John Stones and Aymeric Laporte.

Aston Villa fans have every right to feel confident at the moment as the club have suffered defeat just once in their last eight Championship matches.

As it stands, Steve Bruce’s side are third in the table, four points adrift of the two automatic promotion places.

Their most recent outing was a frantic one as they came from behind twice to earn a 4-2 victory over Sheffield Wednesday on away soil.

The club have been hit with some injury problems in recent weeks, with Jack Grealish and Albert Adomah among those on the treatment table.

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On Tuesday evening, the Midlands outfit will take on Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, and they have had plenty of preparation having had last weekend’s match against Queens Park Rangers called off due to the snowy weather.

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Villa are overwhelming favourites to nab all three points given that the Black Cats are rooted to the bottom of the table having won just five of their 35 league fixtures.

Ahead of the contest, Villans have been tweeting their predictions.

Mohamed Salah has been in a class of his own this season, scoring 23 goals and only failing to score twice in his last 10 Premier League games.

He’s not the only Liverpool player to make an impact since signing in the summer, though, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Virgil Van Dijk, Andrew Robertson and Dominic Solanke all making a name for themselves after arriving at Anfield either in the summer or the January transfer window.

Centre-forward Dominic Solanke has, at least quantitatively, probably been the least effective signing – with the Chelsea youth graduate appearing 16 times for Liverpool in the league this season but only earning the one assist to his name.

Left-back Andrew Robertson has fought his way into the side after barely seeing the field in the first few months of the season, and the left-back is now a first-team regular with two assists in the record books this season.

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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Virgil Van Dijk have had the most expectation attached to them out of the new signings, with the former arriving at Anfield for £34m in the summer and Van Dijk transferring from Southampton on a £70m fee in January.

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The formal Arsenal midfielder has chipped in three goals and four assists, while the ex-Southampton centre-back has kept two clean sheets in the league since joining the club, but has either player been worth their inflated price tag?

We’ll let Liverpool fans decide who has been the best signing at the club this season – have your say by voting below…