On Sunday, Manchester City landed the first major piece of silverware of the 2025/26 season when they beat Arsenal 2-0 in the final of the EFL Cup. Over the past decade or so, it has been unusual for Man City to let a campaign pass without collecting at least one trophy. However, Community Shield aside, 2024/25 went without silverware. As such, Pep Guardiola and his team will be delighted to have won the EFL Cup already, and will hope it can spur them on to greater things.
Ordinarily, the League Cup would not be a priority for a club like Manchester City. However, in the context of the current campaign, it was important to get over the line in the final for several. reasons. First, it gets the club back on the right path after they failed to win anything last term. Second, for a number of Man City’s newer signings, it is their first trophy with the club, and it helps set the right expectation.
But perhaps most importantly of all, it could prove to be a big psychological blow against Arsenal. At this stage, the Premier League looks like it is Arsenal’s to lose. They lead the way by nine points, although Man City have a game in hand and also welcome the Gunners to the Etihad in mid-April. Ultimately, though, even if City win all of their remaining games, Mikel Arteta’s troops will still have a little bit of wiggle room.
Will Arsenal Handle the Pressure?
Man City’s 2-0 win at Wembley and their performance in the second half in particular sent Arsenal a clear message. Pep’s men outclassed the title favourites, who had been chasing a quadruple prior to that defeat. The first half was cagey, with few real chances. But in the second period, the eventual winners looked a lot more like the rampant side they were so often a few seasons ago.
The Cityzens were simply better in every aspect of the game, controlling possession, harrying Arsenal and looking very threatening. That must concern Arteta, especially with the trip to Man City to come in the league. It also showed the Gunners that their main rivals are up for the battle. Given Arsenal have finished second in the past three seasons, there is sure to be a lot of pressure on them.
No side has ever finished as runner-up in the English top flight in four consecutive campaigns, and it is certainly not a record the north Londoners will want to create. Pep has enough experience of title run-ins to know that his side probably needs to be perfect from here on in, and the win at Wembley was the perfect start. Even if City do win all their matches, it may well not be enough, but each victory they can claim will just crank up the pressure that little bit more on the Gunners.
Arsenal Still Have Europe
If Pep’s men can somehow overturn the lead that Arsenal have held for much of the season, they could be on course for a domestic treble. They are through to the FA Cup quarters, where they will host Liverpool. Arsenal, meanwhile, could still land The treble, which is to say the Premier League, the FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League.
However, in terms of the race for domestic honours, there is no doubt that Arsenal’s involvement in Europe could prove a hindrance. Winning games can build momentum and boost confidence, but extra matches and travel increase the risk of physical and mental fatigue, and also injuries.
Arteta has one of the deepest squads in the world at his disposal, but even so, they will be tested over the remaining months of the campaign. The draw in the FA Cup has been kind to them, as it has in the UCL, with the Gunners set to face Southampton and Sporting respectively. After the second leg of their round of 16 clash in Lisbon, however, they have that away clash against Man City, and that is certainly not ideal scheduling for Arteta and his side.
Pep will have a full week between games to prepare for the visit of his former assistant, and that will certainly help a manager who prepares his players so thoroughly. Should City beat the Gunners again, doubt is sure to creep into the minds of Arsenal players who have lots of experience of a title run-in, but all of it negative.
It remains to be seen when City’s game in hand, against Palace, will be scheduled, but it will not be until after the top two meet at the Etihad. Pep would no doubt love to get those three points on the board as soon as possible to try to exert extra pressure on Arteta and co. However, if we do get to a stage where the gap has been cut to just three points, you can be sure that Arsenal and their fans will be feeling the heat. And then we neutrals might just have a real title fight on our hands.