City eliminate Arsenal in the League Cup and accentuate the pressure on Arteta

The current triple champion of the English League Cup, Manchester City, eliminated Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal (4-1) on Tuesday in London, a result that weakens the position of the Basque coach at the head of the ‘Gunners’.

You have to go back to October 26, 2016 to find an elimination of City in this competition. It was 1-0 in the round of 16 at Old Trafford against the later champion of that edition, Manchester United.

Since then, beyond a 1-0 loss without consequences in the second leg of the semifinals last season, also against United, after having won 3-1 in the first leg, the ‘Citizens’ are intractable in the Cup of the league.

So it’s no wonder this season’s depressed Arsenal have been a broken toy in the hands of City stars.

In this competition, which offers a fast track to European competitions, Arteta returned the title to the German Shkodran Mustafi in defense, and the goalkeeper Alex Runarsson under sticks.

Two decisions that were revealed wrong with both players with a great share of responsibility in several goals of the visiting team, the work of the Brazilian Gabriel Jesus (3) -who had not scored in his seven previous games-, of the Algerian Riyad Mahrez (54), Phil Foden (59) and the French Aymeric Laporte (73).

“We conceded an avoidable goal very quickly. Then, in our situation and against this type of opponent, it is difficult,” said Arteta at the end of the game.

Despite the momentary 1-1 in the first half after the goal of French Alexandre Lacazette (31), Arsenal did not give a feeling of being able to win the game at any time, and Arteta’s position began to be seriously questioned after losing to him team for which he was an assistant technician before arriving in London.

“We managed to get back into the game with a good goal. We had about 25 minutes in which we were good, but then we conceded the second goal, the way we conceded it, and against an opponent like that it pays,” added Arteta.

– Brentford gives the surprise –

“We have to manage to reverse the trend, without any doubt,” said the coach ‘Gunner’, who will not have a placid Christmas after his team has been dropped from the League Cup and in the Premier he has lost seven of his ten last matches.

At least he had the support of Guardiola, who said of him that he is “an incredible coach.” “Not even a small bad run of results will change my opinion,” said the Catalan.

In the other quarterfinal match played on Tuesday, Brentford, currently fourth in the Championship (2nd division), reached the semi-finals for the first time, beating Newcastle 1-0 from the Premier League.

The only goal of the match was the work of Josh Dasilva midway through the second part of the clash played in the city on the outskirts of London.

Thus, the team led by Thomas Frank is consolidated as the ‘bogeyman’ of the greats in the competition, after having eliminated West Bromwich Albion, Southampton and Fulham, all of them from the Premier.

The ‘Magpies’ will have to wait for another occasion to end their title drought, which dates back to 1955 with the FA Cup.

On Wednesday it will be the turn of two other quarter-finals, Everton-Manchester United and Stoke-Tottenham.

smg / iga / dr

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