Manchester City defeated Arsenal 2-0 on Sunday evening to win the 2025/26 Carabao Cup, and Pep Guardiola believes the win will give his team an immediate boost in the Premier League title race.
Arsenal’s hope of winning an historic Quadruple was put to an end by Man City, however, it’s still all to play for as both teams continue their pursuit for the Premier League and FA Cup title.
Guardiola speaking after the victory over Arsenal believes their Carabao Cup victory will lift up the spirit in the team when they face Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
When they return after the international break, their next game sees Arne Slot’s side at the Etihad to decide which team will head to Wembley for the FA Cup semi-finals.
However, Guardiola insists the win might not help them regain the top spot from Arsenal in their pursuit for another league title. Instead, defeat could motivate Arsenal when they come to the Etihad next month for what may be a title-deciding match.
Manchester City players celebrate with the EFL Trophy after winning the Carabao Cup. (Photo by Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
“I would like to be nine points in front of Arsenal, but I don’t know if I’d change a trophy to fight for the Premier League,” he said. “I don’t think it will have an impact, different competition and they will be more concerned when they come to the Etihad.
“That title will help us a lot for the [FA Cup] quarter-final against Liverpool at home with our people. Today all our side was fully Blue, I’m so happy being together and celebrating. Maybe it will help us for that game but the Premier League is in their hands, they punished us a lot.
“There were two periods: Sunderland away and Chelsea and Brighton at home, these three draws they punished us a lot in terms of points and the last ones against Nottingham Forest and West Ham. Maybe we will regret it until the end but we have one game in hand, we have Arsenal at home. Will that team drop points? We are going to try to win our games and we will see what happens.”
