City march on, but still need to up their game
NOT even Covid-19 can disrupt the love story between City and the Carabao Cup.
Pep Guardiola may well have been ‘so sad’ to see London in Tier 4 and play another soulless game in a shell of a stadium, yet the reality of being two games away from a fourth consecutive League Cup trophy is more significant for him and his team, with the path to the final illuminated almost as brightly as the mouthguard of Gabriel Jesus in a 4-1 victory.
Arsenal played a significant role in Guardiola’s domination of English football, with their 3-0 defeat in the Carabao Cup final in 2018 triggering an incredible run of eight out of a possible nine domestic trophies running to March 2020.
That Wembley win helped the City squad push on to unprecedented heights and justifies Guardiola’s strong selections throughout the tournament – winning breeds winning.
That is the feeling the Blues are trying to feel again this Christmas after a disjointed campaign that sees them having drawn or lost more than half of their 13 Premier League fixtures.
Any nerves that a strange season would throw up another wobble seemed to be dispelled after just two minutes as Zinchenko was given acres of space on the left byline and Jesus only marginally less three yards out from the goalline to punish some typically abysmal Arsenal defending.
City were far from perfect in the opening stages but were encouraged by the sheer terror that seemed to grip their opponents anywhere near the ball, particularly 25-year-old goalkeeper Alex Runarsson.
This being 2020, though, and this being the Guardiola team that has failed to win the games they should, of course it wasn’t as straightforward as it should have been. The visitors wasted a number of opportunities from corners, Alex Lacazette sneaked in front of Aymeric Laporte to nod home Gabriel Martinelli’s cross and then Jesus missed a golden chance unmarked from 10 yards to see the contest level at the break. City’s manager has been frustrated by the same problems in this side for at least 18 months and if the defence have generally improved, the overall picture is worsening. Annoyed about the finishing in the 1-0 win over Southampton, there was even more to bother Guardiola in this game as there was sloppiness from back to front.
If he is feeling the strain, though, his former assistant has bigger worries. It’s only just a year since City demolished Arsenal at the Emirates so completely that Gunners bosses followed them back up to Manchester to ask Mikel Arteta to come in and sort them out.
That appeared to be working as they knocked City out of the FA Cup and won the final, but there is discontent all around the Emirates once again this winter with the former City No.2 under severe pressure to get results. Given the recent home form, it may well have been to the advantage of the hosts that supporters were not allowed into the ground following the Tier 4 plunge.
City seem destined to always have the Carabao, but they need more if this season is to be considered a success
City had offered absolutely nothing in the opening 10 minutes of the second half when Riyad Mahrez won a free-kick on the edge of the box. Up he stepped, and up stepped Runarsson with one of the most horrifying mistakes a keeper can make, incredibly managing to make his gloved hands the same qualities as a paper bag as the ball apologetically smacked through them and into the goal.
Finally came some killer instinct from the Blues. With Arsenal shellshocked, Fernandinho played in Foden and the England youngster deftly lifted the ball into the net to secure a two-goal cushion, although if VAR was in use it would have been given off-side.
Given extra space following a short corner, Foden then curled in a beauty into the six-yard box to allow Laporte to head in a fourth.
They may have needed gifts, but at least they did capitalise and having lost their stranglehold on Old Trafford this year, it will reassure the team that the Emirates is still so welcoming – this win makes it four in a row on their travels, the th first fi t side id t to pilfer ilf th the h home of f th the Gunners so regularly since Chelsea in the 1960s.
Given their issues in front of goal, scoring four is not to be sniffed at. Guardiola’s team selection was justified far more than Arteta’s was in another victory for master over apprentice, with Foden, Fernandinho and Zack Steffen among those to suggest they can have a greater part to play as and when required – 20 minutes for Sergio Aguero was also a bonus.
The Carabao Cup is there to be won again too. However, Guardiola will hope that if his team do make the final they are in considerably better shape than they remain in with a third of the season gone.
The Th announcement t b by th the EFL th that t th the showpiece will be pushed back by two months in an attempt to welcome more spectators could be seen as a negative for the Blues in that it will require a Premier League game later in the year to be postponed and is also days before any possible Champions League semifinal.
City have needed more time than expected to settle though as the search for a winning rhythm and momentum goes on, and would welcome the fixture congestion if it means they are in with a shout of winning major competitions.
They seem destined to always have the Carabao, but they need more if this season is to be considered a success.
GUARDIOLA’S TWO UNDROPPABLES
PEP Guardiola made seven changes to his side from the starting XI at Southampton. It was still a strong side, with Gabriel Jesus and Aymeric Laporte coming into the team, but there was a night off for Kevin de Bruyne and Benjamin Mendy while Ilkay Gundogan, Raheem Sterling and John Stones were benched.
Yet there still was room for two players who have arguably earned a rest more than most. Rodri was picked again having started all but two City games this season, and this was Ruben Dias’ 15th start in 17 games since arriving at the club.
On a night where Guardiola allowed some of his forwards a rest with two games in 48 hours over Christmas, he still couldn’t rest two of his most reliable options who have become undroppable.
JESUS PROVING A POINT
AFTER missing the Southampton win with a tooth injury, Gabriel Jesus was back in the side with a bright white tooth guard that was unmissable as he wheeled away just two minutes in with a huge grin after giving City the lead.
Jesus started the move on the left, before moving inside to give Aleks Zinchenko space to get to the byline and find the Brazilian in front of goal to nod the ball home.
That was his first goal in 10 hours, and Jesus was lively throughout across the left wing and central areas.
His direct running from deep coaxed two bookings in quick succession, and he nearly capped off a sensational team goal but for a good save from Runar Alex Runarsson. Maybe the return of Sergio Aguero has given Jesus a reminder that he must prove his value in every appearance. He certainly did that here.
RIYAD Mahrez’s free-kick to give City the lead for a second time was well hit, but should have been a simple save for Arsenal back-up keeper Runarsson.
City won’t complain the keeper somehow punched the ball past his own shoulder and into the top corner as it was exactly the kind of luck they have been desperately missing.
Even the best teams need a slice of good fortune, and maybe this was Guardiola’s ‘unblocking’ moment in front of goal that he says could kick-start his side’s rhythm.
Right on cue, Phil Foden’s lovely finish five minutes later gave City a welcome cushion, with the luck continuing as replays showed the midfielder was offside. With no VAR in operation, the Blues got away with it.
SEVEN STARTERS CONFIRMED FOR NEWCASTLE?
MAYBE the teamsheet at the Emirates was more significant for who wasn’t on it than who was. The bench might be a good indication of who could come in on Boxing Day against Newcastle. Ederson, John Stones, Kyle Walker, Benjamin Mendy, Kevin de Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan and Raheem Sterling were all on bench or left out, and would be expected to come back in on Saturday. Jesus would also be favourite to play with Sergio Aguero not ready for 90 minutes, as are Rodri and Dias. That leaves only the right wing, with Ferran Torres, Riyad Mahrez, Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden options.