In terms of a one-off game having an impact on the title race, Sunday could not have gone better for Pep Guardiola.
The Spaniard has been disrespected this season, yet in reality, he is a born winner, and you do not achieve what he has in his career by giving up on a championship when you have a game in hand and still need to play the league leaders.
Momentum and Mindset
He will spend the international break planning how to catch Arsenal. Based on the weekend, there is nothing to fear about the Gunners coming to the Etihad. Mentally, it is a fixture that Man City know they can win; Mikel Arteta has never won at that stadium.
Our manager would have preferred a game in the next few days for his squad to get this final out of their system. Instead, the majority will be flying around the world with their nations. In one way, a welcome distraction, but also two weeks to listen to the doubts. Our boss has done a good job this season of blocking out the outside noise, but now it will be as vital as ever.
Pressure, Experience and the Run-In
The one advantage his mentor has always had over him is the core members of a dressing room who know how to gain the upper hand when the pressure is high. The 43-year-old cannot claim the same. Every year since he has returned to North London, there has always been a moment in the campaign where the lights have proved too bright for his players. That is why a victory at Wembley would have been massive in helping us mentally.
We could do with our rivals slipping up at Stamford Bridge to ease the pressure when we travel to Manchester. Gooners would worry if they woke up on April 20th with our lead at the top at only six points, having played a game more. At that point, you would fear a collapse.
If a League Cup Final was too big a stage, seven fixtures left to become champions will be even bigger.
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The last six games show how inconsistent City have been so I expect them to lose at least one of their final matches, or draw a couple. It’s not over but I expect us to come through as winners.
Exactly. Surely we can’t cock it up from here…
For me the sad thing is, we’re rolling over the finish line instead of sprinting there. Forest, United, Brentford and Liverpool are all games we should’ve won and they would’ve been out of sight.
Now pressure is back on us, because of Mikel gifting them another trophy.
Konstantin
Honestly, there are no guarantees in football. Even Man City fans can say that they should have won against Spurs, Arsenal and Chelsea. That would still be the same
As for you saying there’s pressure because of the loss on Sunday? Come on, that is just a Carabao for goodness sake
Now, let me show you something
If Arsenal beats Bournemouth, we will be 12 points ahead of Man City (With two matches in hand) before they head to Chelsea. Who will be having pressure? It’s Man City
Why?
Because, if they draw, we will be having 73 points (With 6 matches remaining), and they will be having 62 points (With 7 matches remaining). That means that the maximum they can get is 62 points + 21 points (7×3) which is 83 points. So for us, we will only need to win 4 out of our remaining 6 matches to have a total of 73 points+ 12 points (4×3) which is 85 points. That means we can afford to lose two matches including at the Etihad
Again, if we then draw with them, then that means we will have 74 points With 5 matches remaining and they will have 63 points with 6 matches remaining. In this case, the maximum they will get is 63 points + 18 points (6×3) which is 81 points. That means we will only need to win 3 out of the remaining 5 matches to have 82 points
No, not all. It can’t cost us everything. It’s one game, heading into the break. I’ve got to admit i can’t seem to get over that defeat though. I just hate the fact we did, i hate it!
Lets put it this way, with people labeling us bottler’s. Should that defeat to City cost us everything, then we truly will deserve that title.
And a few unsavory words could be used to.
I would say that game served to reinforce the doubters for sure, it did nothing to convince people Arsenal are ready to be champions.
I mean if we were scared to go at a City team coming off 2 draws and a battering by Real Madrid, what does that say about Arteta’s mentality?
Does he believe he can win by playing it safe? How has that worked out the last 3 years? Don’t see how anyone walks away from that with any confidence.
Zubimendi faded and left Rice too much to do in midfield, Saka has been invisible and has what, 2 goals in his last 24 games, yet somehow still starts?
Sure Kepa had a howler, but that play did not cost us the match; the lame tactics and the gutless performance by the players was the reason we lost.
Durand,
And to think that earlier in the season, City were accused of parking the bus when they played us at the Emirates.
When asked about that, Guardiola said they had come off a champions league game that week. And saw a draw as a good result.
Some of you fail to understand how games.
Without Raya we wouldn’t be 9 point ahead on the table. Those scintillating saves, the coordination of our defence line shouldn’t be ignored.
We needed that cup more than man city yet you fielded your second best keeper by a mile.
Arteta is too emotional like most English fans. I would be surprised if arsenal fails to win the EPL.
Wasted 23 years.
How do work out 23 years have been wasted ?
Cynthia lives for the Carabao Cup.
just be careful though mate as I seen Gooners do this
it goes
September – Why can’t we go unbeaten
December- Here’s why Arteta has surpassed Wenger
January – we are the best in Europe and shouldn’t fear anyone in CL
March – it’s only the League Cup , we have bigger fish to fry
April – it’s only the FA Cup lol and yes we got knocked out in the last 4 of the CL but does that mean we are top 4 in Europe
May – okay we lost title but do you know how many clubs would love to be 2nd
the summer – remember winning trophies isn’t the only measurement of success
in other words I can understand why anyone was desperate to get our hands on a trophy
Eze out a month now.
just as Odegaard comes back
Dan,
Is that a good thing?.
he needs to step up doesn’t he
Dan,
I and a few others have been saying the same thing for three seasons now. Still waiting🤦♂️.
Some fans had already put the 4 trophies in the cabinet. Most knew it was going to be a dog fight to the bitter end.
Pep is class and cream always rises to the top. Someone on here mentioned on one of the posts that the league has been very poor for a number of seasons and if we win it then it is because the teams in the league are pretty average.
That’s disrespectful to pep and slot
This has been deemed one of the hardest league in the world
The bottom teams can still get cuase an upset and get a result. If we see out the last few games and lift the league, it is because we deserve it
Do the team and manager have it in them to get the results we need. I believe they do.
A number of times the critics have jumped on us after a loss or draw and questioned our desire, ability, heart and we answered them with pulling out the results to but them back in the box.
Sundays game has opened the lid again to the critics. 2 weeks to wait before we can close the lid on them again
Don’t start wavering now, we are. Close
Keep the faith
Onwards and upwards
I think it is about tunnel vision.
There should be 3 thoughts before the game at the Ethihad: Southampton, Sporting CP and most importantly 3 points against Bournemouth regardless of the results of Man City.
If MA is not able to convince the players on that simple message either he should go (because of non-motivational/communication skills) or many of the players should go (because they lack the mentality).
The mathematics is simple 4 wins + draw against Man City gives us the title on goal difference unless City score like mad and do not concede (which I cannot see).
I have a feeling we are going to get put through the rollercoaster and we will come through and cross the finishing line either by 1 point or on goal difference.
COYG
no mate
if City get it down to 3 we will crumble
thankfully I think that won’t happen
No mate. Maybe you should let the games play out before you start catastrophizing
For Dan
Mate, I know the feeling. We are close but not close enough.
If we do not think about the Ethihad game too much there is a good chance we will not crumble.
I just think the leaders of the group: Rice, Gabriel, Saliba and Raya will hopefully see it through.
Get ready for the rollercoaster and embrace it.
First and foremost, Kepa led us to the final, he earned his name on the team sheet. City did start Trafford in the goal.
Second, we need Raya for the EPL and UCL, could not risk him for a mere EFL cup (and 50K GBP)
The lads were tired and did not want to risk another injury, knowing that Eze is out.My only grief was that Skelly should have started, that fella knows how to play ball with City!
Arteta is clever enough to know which competition deserves more effort. There is lot to play for. The worst would be a repeat of second place in the EPL.
but it’s not a children’s sports day where the the teacher needs to get everyone involved .
Kepa signed as our number 2 , that is what he gets paid for , if he gets dropped for the final the answer is simply because he’s not as good as Raya which he knew when he joined us .
While you can support the club however you wish , your the only fan I hear who puts value on the trophies . If think all that final represented was a chance to make some money then I blame the Koronke Family for educating you like that .
Put it this this way day we lift the Prem ( if ) no one will be saying and Arsenal made this much money today .
As for the not wanting to get injured excuse show some class and be humble . Man City have played the same amount of games and had less rest In the summer and they didn’t seem tired .
Also wouldn’t that be terrible management?
If you get to a final but want to avoid getting injured it’s just as well go out in the third round
“Will the League Cup loss cost Arsenal everything?”
The headline writers certainly know how to make a disaster out of a mishap😱
Right? Anyway a good rule of thumb when there’s a question in a headline is that the answer is invariably “NO” 🙂
like the question will Arsenal win all four trophies or should Kepa start In Final lol
Do you think that they get paid for such negative drivel?
where that argument falls down is you were happy for headlines about the quadruple which some would argue were even more far fetched ?
Arguement? Who’s arguing (apart from you)?
But, since you brought it up, yes, I’m happy for happy headlines, so there, I’m in complete agreement with you😏
but who decides what is happy ?
in my opinion talk of the quadruple is just as toxic as asking a question
So asking someone how they are is toxic ? 🙄😂
didn’t say that ?
makes me cringe lol
you try so hard but are terrible at this
“but who decides what is happy ?
but in my opinion talk of the quadruple is just as toxic as asking a question”.
So you didn’t post that ?
so I don’t literally mean every question.
Just like toxic positivity doesn’t mean everything positive you ever say is toxic
so In this instance , the question in the headline is to me no more toxic then the question can Arsenal win 4 trophies
Well try writing what you really mean then. I would hazard a guess that people on JA aren’t mind readers.
cool
Very.
Jax, the simple answer would be yes.
The headline writers have understood that extreme perspectives increase traffic. Why would losing the league cup cost Arsenal everything?
no it’s just a question.
Arsenal do have a history under Arteta of at this stage of the season going missing so the after the manner of that defeat it’s a fair question .
As for the headline , is it any more crazy then saying can Arsenal win all 4 trophies ?
Did you complain then ?
Did I complain?
TBH, I don’t remember, but if I did, it was probably something really snarky.,
Was it crazy when Arsene said his squad could go unbeaten during a PL season Dan?
I suggest 99.99% thought he was and yet…
As you seem to know all about the fans who said the quadruple was a possibility, how many are you actually talking about?
but Mr Wenger could back it up lol
he had a group who had won the double like the season before
it was nonsense to look at that squad who needs to prove they can get over the line in big games and say they can win all 4 .
At no point were they playing the kind of football where they were going to do that .
How many ?
many gave me a hard time for saying it wouldn’t happen
How many Dan, three or four at the most!!
Arsene couldn’t back it up, because he hadn’t done it.
It was his opinion, just as it was the opinion of some that going around 40 games and only being beaten three times, gave them the opinion that the quadruple could be achieved, especially while sitting top of the PL, undefeated in the CL, quarter final of the FA cup and final of the Carabo cup.
.
Can’t see any difference between Arsene’s and those fans myself and why you want to ridicule Arsenal fans is beyond me.
“extreme perspectives increase traffic.”
Is that a posh person’s way of saying ‘clickbait’?
Kepa cost us on the day but we were poor all over the park. As fans, we are very fickle, we go from the sky is blue to the sky is falling very quickly. To lose a final can happen to any team, but of course the way we lost it was concerning. We were schooled in the second half. I was absolutely demoralized after the game, but we didn’t get this far because we didn’t deserve it. Now we need to earn the title by going on another run.
not fickle mate if fans were saying before the game don’t play him
You are still implying that it was Kepa alone who cost us which isn’t fair nor deserved. I was angry in the heat of the moment but it didn’t happen in added time. His team members also bear responsibility for a less than inspiring performance
I’m implying that a keeper dropping the ball in a Final is huge and massively decisive
for fans not to listen to other Gooners before the game , watch the game and say ‘ oh well it’s a group effort ‘ shows they are not acting in good faith
Not acting in good faith? That’s a bit strong tbh. I saw the merits of both situations and had Kepa not made a mistake you couldn’t come out as much as you have to slate him and Arteta’s decision to play him. Any one of the outfield players could have made a crucial error. The standard from them left a lot to be desired but they are not the subject several days since the final.
okay so would play Kepa for the rest of the Prem and CL games and if no why not ?
But he hasn’t played in the PL and CL games up to now, so why would he start doing so now?
He has played in the FA cup and should continue doing so.
Let’s look at the other players from the starting line up who made mistakes on Sunday :
Trossard – Zubimendi – Hincapie – Saliba – Gabriel – Rice – White – Madueke – Gyokeres – Havertz.
So would you play them for the rest of the PL and CL games?
Would you let MA select the squad, as he also made mistakes during the game.
Apart from Sunday’s match, can you give me any example of Kepa making a mistake this season?
Dan, why are you keeping up this attack on Kepa?
What good is it doing, apart from massaging your ego?
It seems your taking more delight in the fact that he made a mistake, so you can say “I told you so” than analysing all the other things that contributed to our defeat.
I didnt bring it up dude
I was responding to those who said we were fickle so pointing out you can’t be fickle if you called it before it happend
Of course you brought it up and you can’t seem to let it go.
Who said anything about being fickle?
I note you don’t dispute my list of players who also made mistakes, so it seems as if a scapegoat is being made and your leading the rush!!
Dan
Let me know something
Raya played in the semis of last season’s Carabao and we lost home and away against Newcastle
On the other hand, Kepa comes and in his first season, he takes us to the final of the same Carabao and the first final since 2020, beating Chelsea home and away.
Doesn’t this mean he took us a notch higher this season? Then, why not give him a chance to play in the final? And by the way nobody knew he would do such a mistake
Can you tell us why you are so biased when it comes to Kepa and not to other players such as Saka and Havertz who also cost us?
And FYI, this same Kepa that you are undermining has played for Arsenal, Madrid and Chelsea
JBG5 said fans were fickle
No idea who JBG5. is, or that you don’t dispute Kepa is being made a scapegoat, with you leading the rush.
depends what you mean by scapegoat
is your keeper dropping the ball In a final costly ….of course
I can’t in good faith say it was a mistake to play him then watch his make that mistake and now say it wasn’t a mistake lol
So why are you not scapegoating Havertz for missing the early chances, or Trossard for being a non entity, or Saka for producing nothing of note?
What you could say, in good faith, is that Kepa’s mistake wasn’t the only one and, though you wanted Raya to play, the whole squad should take responsibility for the result and you couldn’t say, in good faith, that Raya wouldn’t have made the same mistake…..
because I believe we had no one better then Saka or Havertz to play
I also think we are a defensive side who were going to let Man City have the ball and the final world be decided on details
knowing that Kepa has proven at Chelsea he mentally can’t handle this level I wouldnt have played him ……as I told you before the final lol
the fact I couldn’t have been more correct and you still are asking me this question is odd
but that’s why I said to Sue why not play Kepa in the rest of the Prem games then if your saying it’s okay to make a mistake because the team should clear up after him ?
unfortunately In a final those key moments are decisive and will cost you
Dan
You are sidestepping here. You have gone on and on about Kepa before and since the game regardless of who used the word fickle in an earlier post
In answer to your other point above, I doubt very much if I’d start Kepa in the league notably because he’s not our first choice gk. which of course is the obvious answer. The whole debate centres around Kepa being the keeper for the domestic cup competitions.
I wonder if there would have been opposition to playing Raya instead, bearing in mind Kepa’s role throughout the competition?
JBGS wrote
Kepa cost us on the day but we were poor all over the park. As fans, we are very fickle, we go from the sky is blue to the sky is falling very quickly. T
so I simply pointed out not all fans were fickle as they mentioned it before
My point about fans being fickle was not about Kepa. It was about the panic following one bad game from the whole team. I acknowledged that Kepas mistake cost us, but he was not alone in a poor performance. We go from positive to negative in a blink of an eye.
Your point is well made. Fans are in general quite fickle. Of course, going from an air of optimism about winning the Carabao cup to concern about the whole season unraveling reflects the fickleness of fans.
The debate about Kepa’s error is just being extended, rather cynically, to suit a certain agenda.
he was the one who brought Kepa up?
Dan
So he did. I read it and could see nothing in it other than an opinion I shared of not just the goalie but the team as a whole . You found a reason to latch on to Kepa being the only culprit which has been your standpoint since you knew he was going to start. For some inexplicable reason you can’t let it go. It’s done. The game was lost and to most people he cost us, but so did the rest of the team.
again he mentions Kepa
Because he was replying to your post and your misinterpretation of it imo
I maintain if Arsenal somehow find a way to cock it up from this point in the season that’s got to be it for Arteta, no more excuses, this team should be good enough to at least win the league out of the 3 competitions they’re going for, get the job done and don’t bottle it.
I dont think the Carabao cup loss brings us more pressure
The calculations are very simple. Win at least 5 matches
But the key matches are the next two
Beat Bournemouth and go 12 points clear. That will put City under more pressure as they to the Stamford Bridge. If they fail to beat Chelsea and we avoid a defeat at the Etihad, then we will win the league
I don’t see this City beating Chelsea, Bournemouth and Everton away plus Arsenal and Aston Villa at the Etihad
It may just do the opposite and drive the players on to win the PL 🤞