Arsenal entered the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City with the expectation that this would be the starting point for the journey to conquer the quadruple. Before the decisive stage of the 2025-2026 season, the "Gunners" are considered the top candidates for all four arenas they participate in. However, right at Wembley, that dream was soon stopped.
Things did not go smoothly for coach Mikel Arteta's team. They had a promising start when they forced goalkeeper James Trafford to make three consecutive saves in the sixth minute, but that was also a rare bright spot for Arsenal in the match.
The 0-2 defeat to Man City not only caused them to miss the title, but also set a forgettable record. Arsenal have lost 4 consecutive Carabao Cup finals - more than any other team in the history of the tournament. Clearly, their success in the FA Cup is not repeated in this playground.
For many years, Carabao Cup champions often showed signs of decline at the end of the season. Arsenal once hoped that scenario would be repeated with Man City to create an advantage in the Premier League race. But history shows that not being able to stand up after defeat in the final is a bigger problem for the "Gunners".
Man City at this time does not control the Premier League title race. Fate has been in Arsenal's hands for many months and they almost do not give any opponent a chance to chase.
The current gap is 9 points, although Man City still has one match to play and will host Arsenal at the Etihad on April 19. However, even if Arsenal loses that match and the gap is narrowed to 3 points, they will still maintain the leading position in the decisive stage of the season.
Arteta also showed that he knows how to learn from mistakes. After the 1-4 defeat at the Etihad in his first season competing for the championship, he rebuilt the team in a more solid direction, turning Arsenal into a disciplined and difficult-to-beat defensive team.
The 2024-2025 campaign was heavily affected by injuries, revealing limitations in squad depth. But that weakness was overcome by a strong transfer window, helping The Gunners be strong enough to compete on many fronts this season.
Arsenal is still one of the most difficult teams to beat. The defeat to Man City is also the first time they have lost by more than a goal difference in the whole season. Ironically, this defeat may be what they need to overcome the psychological barrier.
Arteta appeared quite quiet after the match, but still maintained his belief in the road ahead. He emphasized: "The important thing is to look at everything objectively. What this team has done in the past 8 months is very incredible. We will take advantage of that disappointment and fire to have the best 2 months of the season. Now, we have to overcome the pain and disappointment. That is part of football".
However, saying is easy, doing is another matter. What will happen if Arsenal is led in the next match at the Emirates? How will the audience react? Will their bravery be enough to stand firm in difficult times? The answer will soon appear, and that will be the clearest measure of Arsenal's true bravery in the championship race.
