Arsenal’s Carabao Cup victory may signify the conclusion of Manchester City’s successful period.
The matchup between Manchester City and Arsenal transcends a mere cup final. The Carabao Cup encounter at Wembley on Sunday signifies the commencement of a two-month stretch where England’s top two clubs could potentially dominate the domestic trophies.
Arsenal remains in contention for a quadruple, while City aims for a domestic treble. The Gunners have been the challengers, finishing second in the Premier League for three straight seasons, while City boasts the experience of being champions with a winning mentality.
Recently, however, the dynamics seem to be shifting. As City has stumbled and exited the UEFA Champions League, Arsenal has advanced to the quarterfinals and established a nine-point lead at the Premier League summit.
A first trophy for Mikel Arteta in six years would serve as a clear indication that the balance of power may be tilting towards London. Conversely, a victory for City at Wembley would reinforce their dominance and raise questions about Arsenal’s capacity to secure silverware.
What are the perceptions of each team regarding the other, and what is the atmosphere within their respective squads? ESPN engaged with Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhães and City center back Rúben Dias this week to gain insights.
Can Arsenal finally claim a trophy from City?
Shortly after joining a small group of journalists gathered around a sunlit table at Arsenal’s Sobha Realty Training Centre, Gabriel expresses confusion over an unfamiliar accent.
“You’re from Manchester?” he inquires, adding, “What brings you here?”
Gabriel smiles, yet his protective instincts are unwavering. Teammate Martin Ødegaard once remarked that the Brazil international would likely be a security guard if he were not a footballer.
Supporters chant that he is “the wall at the back,” a player whose tenacious style and social media interactions have earned him a cult following. He is, quite simply, a player who thrives on the physical aspects of the game and enjoys competition. The encounters are too numerous to detail fully, but perhaps the most notable is with Manchester City striker Erling Haaland.
Last season, Haaland struck Gabriel in the back of the head with the ball as City equalized in stoppage time, before Arsenal triumphed in the return match 5-1, during which Gabriel confronted Haaland after the Gunners netted the opening goal. At full time, Haaland displayed his Premier League champions badge to Gabriel. In September’s 1-1 draw at Emirates Stadium, Haaland scored again, bringing his tally to five goals and two assists from seven matches against Arsenal.
“I relish every match, every striker,” Gabriel states regarding Haaland. “It is my role, so I enjoy the competition, but he is an exceptional player and, naturally, I believe he enjoys facing me as well. I think it is entertaining. We both take pleasure in it.
“As a defender, I must bring this energy for my teammates and our supporters. I give my all when I step onto the pitch. [Sunday] is going to be a significant battle, and I am prepared for it.”
Is Haaland the most challenging striker in the league to contend with? “Yes, certainly,” Gabriel affirms, revealing that he has studied footage of legendary defenders such as Paolo Maldini, Fabio Cannavaro, Lúcio, Thiago Silva, and Marquinhos to enhance his skills.
The dynamic against City, however, appears different this time. Arsenal has not lost to City in their last six encounters, and the title race has shifted notably in their favor recently. Set pieces have become a crucial aspect of their overall improvement, with Gabriel being the most significant threat. With 20 goals, he is just two shy of Laurent Koscielny’s record as their most prolific defender in Premier League history.
“When we have a corner or a free kick, I focus on scoring. I want to contribute to my team,” Gabriel explains. “But while everyone talks about ‘Gabi, Gabi, Gabi scores a lot,’ it is not just about me; it is our team. It reflects how we collaborate.”
Arsenal must now demonstrate their ability to perform when trophies are on the line. The only question remains: Can they follow through?
“I believe we have learned a lot from the past,” Gabriel reflects. “Certainly, we work diligently to win. We aim to win every match, but we understand that the Premier League is the most challenging league to compete in. In the last three years, we fell short, but I think we have started [well] this year.
“Naturally, we strive to do our utmost. I think we are in a favorable position. We just need to continue our current approach and see how it concludes.”
If Arsenal secures a victory on Sunday, Gabriel will likely celebrate more openly than most. While many players avoid social media, Gabriel embraces it.
His playful banter is also well-timed. After defeating Aston Villa in December, he was recorded putting three fingers in his pocket, mimicking Amadou Onana’s celebration from their previous encounter. Following September’s 4-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, he shared a photo from the team bus holding up the four of hearts playing card and tagged his Brazil teammate and Spurs striker Richarlison.
“I remember, that’s why,” Gabriel remarks about those celebrations. “I don’t jot them down, but that’s what makes football beautiful. Because they can do what we can do as well.
“Like Richarlison, he’s my friend. When we lost to them in preseason, they posted a picture, and now we see it in the Premier League. So it’s in my mind; I don’t forget. But it’s nothing personal.”
He is often quick to post after a victory. “Against Spurs, it has to be quick,” he noted.
Against City, it may be the same. — James Olley
play0:56Guardiola praises ‘exceptional’ Arsenal ahead of Carabao Cup final
Pep Guardiola comments ahead of the Carabao Cup final between Manchester City and Arsenal.
City’s transition
Depending on one’s perspective, Sunday’s Carabao Cup final represents either one of Pep Guardiola’s final chances to secure a trophy with Manchester City or an opportunity for his revamped squad to claim their first piece of silverware.
Guardiola is nearing the conclusion of his tenure at the Etihad Stadium. While he is not revealing any intentions just yet, it is possible he could depart as soon as this summer.
He has achieved every possible accolade, including winning the Carabao Cup four times, but many players he will lead out this weekend are just beginning their journeys. Indeed, a victory over Arsenal at Wembley would mark the first winner’s medal with City for players such as Gianluigi Donnarumma, Nico O’Reilly, Rayan Cherki, Antoine Semenyo, Tijjani Reijnders, Omar Marmoush, and Abdukodir Khusanov. January signing Marc Guéhi is ineligible but falls into the same category.
The prospect of guiding another strong team could persuade Guardiola to fulfill the final year of his contract, which is set to expire in June 2027.
Dias, who has been under Guardiola’s management since 2020, has experienced both the highs and lows: from winning Premier Leagues, the Champions League, treble, and domestic quadruple to last season when, in Guardiola’s own words, it felt as though City were struggling to secure a victory, let alone a trophy.
As one of the squad leaders chosen by Guardiola in the summer, Dias notes that the new players have contributed to resetting the standards, which the Portugal international suggested had declined over the past year when victories became more elusive.
“I feel that sometimes, while winning, you fall into certain patterns that are effective at the moment,” he explains. “It influences behaviors daily, tactics, and everything in football, just as it does in life, but I think it requires an update, sometimes doing something different again.
“By doing so, you engage everyone. You align everyone on the same page, with the same mentality, standards, and responsibilities.
“I believe it has taken a much better direction now, and it was necessary. Obviously, many things changed after that winning period. We need to establish the standard for a new season. It was essential, and I felt we executed it at the right moment.”
If Dias has played a crucial role in restoring order within the dressing room, he will also be essential at Wembley.
Arsenal’s proficiency in scoring from set pieces means he will face pressure to manage any threats directed at City’s penalty area. The style of play employed by Arteta’s side has faced criticism—especially when compared to the attacking football characteristic of Guardiola’s teams—but as someone who prioritizes winning above all else, Dias states he will never judge how others approach their game.
“I would say I don’t care,” he responds when asked about Arsenal’s style. “I just want to win, and that’s it. Like any other match, you assess what you’re up against, identify what can and cannot be done, and within those parameters, you perform to the best of your ability.”
When City won the Carabao Cup final in 2018—against Arsenal—it laid the groundwork for a period of dominance in English football. It was Guardiola’s first trophy at the club, and a first title was secured just months later. They continued to win regularly until last season.
As they approach another final on Sunday, City finds itself at the crossroads of concluding one era while beginning another. Guardiola seeks to extract the last few trophies from an already illustrious career, while his new squad aims to initiate its own collection. — Rob Dawson
