LOSS Carabao Cup Final: Arsenal 0 - 2 Manchester City | Sunday 22nd March | KO: 16:30 GMT | ITV1 / Sky Sports

Here we go then, this season's first opportunity for silverware, & the first since we won the FA Cup Final in 2020 in Arteta's first season.

We've not won the League Cup since 1993, beating Sheffield Wednesday 2-1, & securing the domestic cup double in the process.

Steve Morrow scored the winner, but is probably more famous for Tony Adams dropping him from his shoulders in the post game celebrations, breaking Morrows arm in the process

Arsenal on X: "🗓 #OnThisDay in 1993: A memorable afternoon for Steve Morrow... Scores winner in League Cup final Breaks arm in full-time celebrations



Hopefully the only thing we will be breaking on Sunday, is Man City's hearts

The main team selection question is will Teta stick with Kepa in goal or not ?

Prediction : Arsenal 3 - 1 Man City

COYG

 

[merciarsene]

Declan Rice only works as a single pivot 6 with a clear defensive job to do. He is a limited player and till people dont accept this, there never will be attacking effectiveness and fluid play

 

[jaystewart]

Your definition of a major trophy is different to mine. The league and Champions League obviously carry more prestige, but I don’t see the cups as meaningless, especially the FA Cup. I can't fathom why it’s now underrated. There’s a reason it's winners play in the Charity Shield.

Arteta’s teams have spent more but haven’t delivered as much, and for me the league isn’t as strong as it once was. That comes down to the overall quality of players and managers, declining imo.

Ideally, this club should always reflect Wengerball principles. But ultimately you can play any style as long as it suits the players and brings consistent performances. Mourinho’s best Chelsea sides were pragmatic, but they were effective and full of winners.

Right now, this Arsenal side just looks like it’s been winging it since November.

I agree, for a team who is more than capable of delivering 80+ points, it isn't a fun watch. We are undeniably a decent side but theres a lot left wanting. Mainly though, I think Arsenal fans are just traumatised and emotionally volatile bunch. It frustrates me in others so I try post on here trying rationalise why it doesn't always work out for us. But thats my way of dealing with the very same disappointment.

FA cups aren't enough for my troubles but I know people hold it in high regard because it really was the bees knees before the premier league came around. I don't think winning a domestic cup is going to relax our fanbase though. I don't think pretty but trophyless football will either.

You're right, Jose and Conte won trophies at Chelsea with defensive sides. But they also had world class midfielders and forwards which we don't have. Lampard, Essien, Drogba, Makelele, Cesc, Kante, Hazard, Willian, Diego Costa. But like you mentioned that with our level of spending, I feel like we should of unearthed at least one world class attacker...

 

[Trilly]

Just seen that we let Cherki do kick ups? **** this

 

[GoonerJay24]

I agree, for a team who is more than capable of delivering 80+ points, it isn't a fun watch. We are undeniably a decent side but theres a lot left wanting. Mainly though, I think Arsenal fans are just traumatised and emotionally volatile bunch. It frustrates me in others so I try post on here trying rationalise why it doesn't always work out for us. But thats my way of dealing with the very same disappointment.

FA cups aren't enough for my troubles but I know people hold it in high regard because it really was the bees knees before the premier league came around. I don't think winning a domestic cup is going to relax our fanbase though. I don't think pretty but trophyless football will either.

You're right, Jose and Conte won trophies at Chelsea with defensive sides. But they also had world class midfielders and forwards which we don't have. Lampard, Essien, Drogba, Makelele, Cesc, Kante, Hazard, Willian, Diego Costa. But like you mentioned that with our level of spending, I feel like we should of unearthed at least one world class attacker...

It's not about being fun or boring, the teams just performing poor. The reason is due to injuries and being inbetween playing styles. Both these things cause cohesion issues, especially in possession

What we had 10-12 years ago wasn't just FA Cups. There was great football, sensible spending and competing. A lack of media support, fan support and again, injuries to key players was our undoing. We also got unlucky to face prime Bayern and Barca in every RO16 game. The only exception was Monaco in 2015; which was failure but tbf, they were solid too.

I Wouldn't say those Chelsea sides were purely defensive. They were pragmatic, adaptive with an emphasis on defensive principles. Think, Emery's Villa but more direct and better coherence of leadership. I agree, we should've signed Mbappe and Fabian Ruiz in 2023 to truly elevate this side

 

[2Smokeyy]

Just seen that we let Cherki do kick ups? **** this

That’s not even the worst thing he done a Nani vs Arsenal when they used to banter us + David Luiz recreated all in one move:

 

[Trilly]

That’s not even the worst thing he done a Nani vs Arsenal when they used to banter us + David Luiz recreated all in one move:

My head is gone

 

[2Smokeyy]

My head is gone

Yeah I don’t even think our players would have bantered them the way Citeh were doing so. Even Savio, Semenyo and the rest were kind of sending some sly shots.

That’s why I don’t really buy into the “it’s only the Carabao Cup” angle. If you don’t rate the cup, fine but at least take the opposition seriously as they’re who we’re competing with.

 

[Riou]

Just seen that we let Cherki do kick ups? **** this

Me, when I saw Martinelli laughing with Savinho on the sidelines as City were crusing to the win...

 

[Riou]

Thinking about it, this is worse than the 2018 final defeat.

That was a better City team v a bit of a mess of an Arsenal team lol, hate how we just handed Pep a trophy in that second half ffs...bald bellend.

 

[Riou]

Is this real ffs.

Looks like something you would see in a dumb match in AEW

 

[outlawz]

That 4 midblock he put in front of Kepa to prevent us playing out was nasty, especially with our basic ass automations that Rice and Zubi always resort to. So ****ing juvenile lmao. It's like they don't even scan, sometimes they receive the ball with acres of space and neither of them will turn around and drive. They always do the passing it to the fullback automation. Their combined spacial awareness on the ball is very poor imo. They need to work on it a lot this summer

It seems like it's all instruction to not turn with the ball.

 

[HollandGooner]

I would like to understand one thing i think we were very on top in the first 30 minutes or so but the second half we lost all kind of control which was very strange to me. also we were playing very very deep.

 

[Aubamabludclat94]

It seems like it's all instruction to not turn with the ball.

Holy ****. That's amazing. I like what he said about Silva being able to do whatever tf he wanted (even against Pep's instructions) cause he COULD do it at the required level and he made something happen

 

[Riou]

Kepa was bad on the ball, but I think Rice and Zubimendi really hid in that second half when things went against us.

Think those two have really let us down in a lot of big games this season, tbh.

 

[Iwobeast]

Btw I like white in the final 3rd but I think Timber’s ability in possession to carry/evade the press and drag is up the pitch is massively underrated at times.

Timber also helps us attack but in a very different way

 

[Batman]

Just seen that we let Cherki do kick ups? **** this

White kicked him and took the yellow as he should. Only bit of fight I saw from anyone not named Saliba during the match.

 

[Batman]

Holy ****. That's amazing. I like what he said about Silva being able to do whatever tf he wanted (even against Pep's instructions) cause he COULD do it at the required level and he made something happen

I question why then Ødegaard is allowed to do useless pirouettes on the ball in the middle of the pitch that slow the ball down then. It makes no sense.

 

[Riou]

Kepa was bad on the ball, but I think Rice and Zubimendi really hid in that second half when things went against us.

Think those two have really let us down in a lot of big games this season, tbh.

Should Myles have been given more minutes to see if he can develop as a CM?

Feel our build-up play has been crap for ages, and Skelly can progress the ball if nothing else.

 

[Diesel]

Should Myles have been given more minutes to see if he can develop as a CM?

Feel our build-up play has been crap for ages, and Skelly can progress the ball if nothing else.

He should be playing early and frequent in some capacity in domestic cup matches. Home games against bottom sides where we expect to have more of the ball he should see more time. If we aren't gonna use him than cash in. Simple as.

 

[Xln]

@Trilly @2Smokeyy Why are you fuming over their dumb moves? When we win the league, how will they look like doing this? They're just mocking themselves. To be fair it's embarrassing now already, they got humiliated in the UCL and instead of locking in they are now acting like circus members.