Where Do Arsenal Go From Here?

Boyhood Manchester City fan Nico O'Reilly's brace assisted his side got rid of 9-4 odds to upset quadruple-chasing Arsenal in Sunday's EFL Cup final at Wembley, with the Citizens' 2-0 win giving Pep Guardiola a 5th accomplishment to make him the most successful manager in the tournament's history.


The Gunners, who are leading of the Premier League and into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and Champions League, began the game as 4-6 shots to raise the trophy and 14-1 chances to complete the quadruple however their propensity to bottle the big moments came forward as Wembley professionals City dominated.


Bet365 now make Arsenal 8-1 to finish the treble and 11-1 to end the season with no prizes. They are an even-money rate to finish the campaign with two pieces of silverware and 6-4 to land only one.


EFL Cup evaluation


The video game started fairly desperately with Arsenal forcing a triple save out of James Trafford, chosen to Gianluigi Donnarumma by Guardiola, however things quickly died as the 2 sides took a cautious method, each trading spells of possession without truly developing anything of note.


Arsenal's own back-up goalkeeper, Kepa, escaped with just a yellow card after pulling Jeremy Doku back after misjudging a long ball in the 2nd half's first significant event but he was not so fortunate when next pushed into action.


It was a huge call from Arteta to stick to Kepa, offered he infamously declined to be replaced before putting in a shocking performance in Chelsea's penalty-shootout defeat to City in the 2019 EFL Cup last and also missed the important spot-kick in the 2022 showpiece versus Liverpool, but he may be regretting it now.


The Spaniard flapped at Rayan Cherki's tame cross to enable young midfielder O'Reilly to tap home the opener in the 60th minute, an error which has actually cost Arsenal their shot at an unmatched quadruple.


Kepa could not do anything about O'Reilly's second, though, as the 20-year-old's skillfully positioned header cruised into the far corner to double City's lead, make Guardiola a yellow card after a joyous sprint down the touchline and see him end up being the third-youngest gamer to score an EFL Cup final brace.


Arsenal brough on the likes of Noni Madueke and Riccardo Calafiori to claw their method back into the video game but Guardiola managed the occasion completely, with City controlling the game to show that he still holds the edge over his previous apprentice Arteta.


Latest Manchester City odds after Wembley victory


City will be hoping that their EFL Cup accomplishment will be the springboard to get their Premier League title charge back on track. They are 9 points behind the Gunners at existing however they have a video game in hand and also host their title rivals at the Etihad on April 19.


The Citizens are 13-10 with bet365 to win that potentially crucial match - that looks good value given their dominant screen at Wembley - while they are 6-1 to pip 1-10 Arsenal to the Premier League title


Guardiola's side run out the Champions League after a 5-1 aggregate loss to Real Madrid however they are 3-1 second-favourites for the FA Cup, just behind 7-4 Arsenal. They should get rid of a difficult quarter-final clash with Liverpool if they are to raise a second domestic trophy of the season, however.


Where do Arsenal go from here?


Arsenal have been roughly displayed bottlers sometimes over the previous couple of seasons however given their brief chances to raise the EFL Cup, that tag was validated on Sunday.


Arteta's team just didn't turn up when it mattered most, as City's big-game experience proved the difference in a cagey final, which might have the more fans fearing the worst might happen in the Premier League.


A nine-point lead over City seems big however it could quickly vaporize and definitely will if they put in more nervy performances over the last 7 games of the Premier League season.


Viktor Gyokeres, Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard all put in ghost-like performances in the EFL Cup last and you need to question whether Arsenal have the leaders and enemies to hold their nerve in a title race which is far from over.


Premier League title betting


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