Arsenal vs Man City (Carabao) 0-2

Matchday
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61

Or we piss them off into an 8 game rampage including against us.

I think the game on Sunday is just about Sunday personally.

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62

Yep. Even more so because a break directly follows and even the first week back after still isnā€™t PL football.

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63

Thereā€™s no guarantee of the size or nature of the effect of this game on our season.

Both winning and losing have potential positive and negative reactions.

If we win it could inspire us on to bigger things, or it could dampen the urgency and hunger the squad has to win something.

If we lose it could knock our confidence and damage our campaign elsewhere or the team could, as it has done before this season, react to a setback with a strong run of results.

Personally, Iā€™d back this squad to react positively to either outcome on Sunday. Weā€™ve definitely played games with more concrete consequences than this one this season.

Which is not to say it isnā€™t huge. Of course it is.

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64

Yeah. Iā€™d hear the argument if Arsenal and City were playing a PL game a couple days later but the international break changes everything.

Whatever momentum or psychological advantage youā€™ve gained pre-break will be diminished by the time you play again in the PL.

As far as the PL is concerned, the next two PL games for both(which includes the match at the Etihad) are the defining ones in the title race.

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65

Wow man. Canā€™t wait for Sunday. Excited.

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66

Arteta didnā€™t answer the question on who will start in goal.

If it was Kepa, I think he would have given a straight answer and just said Kepa.

It gives me hope that Raya will start. We have to be ruthless about winning this. Arteta has that ruthless streak.

I would feel bad for Kepa on a human level but unfortunately the trophy is more important to the football club than his feelings.

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67

Trafford starting for City apparently.

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I donā€™t think so, Arteta always tries to avoid answer straight.

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69

Yeah. Arteta is a bit kinky. And we all love it.

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70

Idgaf about ex-Chelsea feelings. More so the message it sends to the rest of the squad.

May not be great for man management.

Plus, Arteta might just be keeping his cards close to his chest.

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Heā€™s trying to keep Pep guessing but I canā€™t see any way it isnā€™t Raya.

72

It could be Kepa!

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73

Iā€™m pretty sure itā€™ll be Kepa.

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74

Carabollocks Cup.

Letā€™s win it!

Kepa starts.

He sits his ass on the bench for the FA Cup final if he fucks up in this one.

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75

He sits his ass on a flight to Saudi if that happens.

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77

Arteta has a perfect record at Wembley, with 8 wins (4 as a player, 4 as a manager).

Most of them against big names too. Great memories.

Letā€™s keep it going tomorrow, boss

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78

Itā€™s a different type of anxiety isnā€™t it?
Iā€™m finding that for EPL games Iā€™m really tense prior to kick-off and it doesnā€™t feel healthy.
Whereas this is the League Cup Final, Iā€™m excited about the occasion. A loss will mean a bit of banter, disappointment and possibly frustration (if we deserved to win) but in the greater scheme of things we have 3 more important trophies to compete for.

I guess it comes down to a choice (if I had one); first league cup win since 1993 or first EPL title since 2004. Iā€™d take the latter all the time.

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79

Absolutely. Iā€™m actually looking forward to tomorrowā€™s game.

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80

Thereā€™s no way that Areta should pick Kepa.

What other top manager would pick a second choice player in a final, especially as the first choice is arguably the best in Europe?

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