As Pep Guardiola’s era of dominance begins to wane, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal views the Carabao Cup final as the essential psychological springboard to secure a historic quadruple and establish a new period of Premier League supremacy.
The mirrors of history are reflecting a fascinating image at Wembley this Sunday. To understand the gravity of the upcoming Carabao Cup final between Arsenal and Manchester City, we have to look back to 2018.
That afternoon, Mikel Arteta sat in the dugout as Pep Guardiola’s apprentice, watching City dismantle Arsenal 3-0.
It was a result that signaled the dawn of a sky-blue era and the final, fading breaths of Arsene Wenger’s legendary tenure.
Eight years later, the roles have reversed with poetic precision. The apprentice is now the master of a North London revolution, and the chasm that once separated these two clubs has been bridged—and then some.
The Fading Power of the Cityzens
The dominance of the Guardiola years is finally starting to fade. As speculation grows that this could be Pep’s final season in Manchester, the “all-conquering juggernaut” is looking uncharacteristically mortal.
City are “leaking oil at an alarming rate,” dropping points to the likes of Nottingham Forest and West Ham, while their Champions League dreams were recently extinguished in a “chastening” 5-2 aggregate defeat to Real Madrid.
Even the robotic efficiency of Erling Haaland has stuttered; the Norwegian has managed just three goals in 11 league matches in 2026.
For a team that once thrived on inevitability, the current reality is that they are a “beatable side.”
Arsenal’s Quadruple Launchpad
For Arsenal, this isn’t just about a trophy; it’s about “rocket fuel.” The Gunners currently hold a nine-point lead in the Premier League title race, and a victory on Sunday could be the psychological catalyst for a historic quadruple.
With FA Cup and Champions League quarter-finals on the horizon, the momentum of a Wembley win would make the North London side feel invincible.
Mikel Arteta, ever the strategist, knows that silverware changes the DNA of a squad. He noted on Friday:
“Certainly, yes, because winning a trophy helps more for sure. It gives you confidence, it gives you the feeling that when it comes to that moment, you can do it, and you have enough resources to achieve what you want.”
The Personnel Puzzles
Despite the momentum, Arteta faces massive selection headaches. The most debated is the “cup goalkeeper” dilemma.
Does he stick with Kepa Arrizabalaga—whose Carabao Cup history involves a famous refusal to be substituted and a nightmare shootout—or bring in the steady David Raya? Arteta remained “coy” when pressed, simply noting that a decision had been made.
On the pitch, the energy is electric. The club is buzzing after Max Dowman’s recent heroics and a convincing attacking display against Bayer Leverkusen.
Eberechi Eze, the man for the big occasion, seems to be peaking at the perfect time.
Statistics show Eze averages a goal every two games between March and May—a “spring bloom” that Arsenal will hope continues at Wembley.
A Psychological Shift
While Guardiola was keen to downplay the stakes, saying, “I am old enough to see that one football game is not the big happiness or a loss is the end of the world, it’s just a game,” the sentiment in North London is vastly different.
This is a test of whether Arsenal can graduate from “contenders” to “champions.”
They are unbeaten in six matches against City, but many of those were draws or occurred when the pressure was lower.
Sunday is decisive. It is a moment for Gabriel to continue his “rule-bending” defensive masterclasses and for the squad to prove they can “empty the tank” when a trophy is on the line.
The New Normal?
The Premier League has reclaimed its reputation for unpredictability. The days of 100-point seasons are gone, replaced by a league where the “minnows are raising the floor.” In this environment, the Carabao Cup serves as the ultimate litmus test.
If Arsenal lift the trophy, it won’t just end a six-year drought; it will signal a formal handover of power. The era of City dominance may not be ending with a whimper, but with an Arsenal roar.