Arsenal legend Paul Merson (Picture: Sky Sports)
Paul Merson fears for Arsenal’s Champions League hopes after a ‘pretty worrying’ defeat to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final.
Arsenal were hoping to secure their first major trophy since 2020 at Wembley on Sunday but fell short, losing 2-0 to Premier League title rivals Man City.
There was little to separate the two teams in a cagey opening 45 minutes but Manchester City dominated the second half, with Nico O’Reilly’s brace sealing a relatively comfortable win.
Merson says Pep Guardiola’s side gave Arsenal ‘a footballing lesson’ at Wembley and fears it will be a ‘confidence-sapping defeat’ for the Gunners.
While Arsenal missed out on the first trophy of the season, they still have ambitions of a stunning treble going into the international break.
Mikel Arteta’s team are nine points clear at the top of the Premier League and preparing for a Champions League quarter-final against Sporting and a FA Cup quarter-final against Southampton.
Merson is confident Arsenal will still clinch the league title but believes that will be the only trophy heading to the Emirates Stadium this season.
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Arsenal v Manchester City - Carabao Cup Final
Mikel Arteta after the Carabao Cup final defeat (Picture: Getty)
Arsenal are on the other side of the Champions League draw than top contenders PSG, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid but could face Barcelona in the semi-finals and Merson reckons that would be a one-sided affair.
‘Man City turned up in the second half of the Carabao Cup final and absolutely gave Arsenal a footballing lesson at the highest level,’ he told Sky Sports.
‘For 25 minutes of the second half, no one at Arsenal wanted the ball. They were booting the ball away, just kicking it back to City. And City destroyed them, absolutely destroyed them.
Arsenal v Manchester City - Carabao Cup Final
Manchester City beat Arsenal 2-0 at Wembley (Picture: Getty)
‘It’s a sore one for Arsenal. It’s a confidence-sapping defeat because you come in the dressing room after that and think: oh my God, we just got destroyed in the second half.
‘Will it impact the Premier League? Arsenal are too good for the other teams they have to play against in the run-in, so they will beat those teams.
‘But watching that game and that second half, I don’t see Arsenal winning anything else but the Premier League.
‘Man City are still in the FA Cup. Watching that game, you’d be shocked if Arsenal went back to Wembley and beat them.
‘And then in the Champions League, I look at Barcelona – who Arsenal are on course to play in the semi-finals – and Arsenal haven’t got the pace to trouble Barcelona’s high line.
‘The forward players aren’t electric – they’re not like Anthony Elanga or Anthony Gordon who caused Barcelona problems in the last 16.
‘I dread to think what Barcelona could do to Arsenal.’
Champions League draw
QUARTER-FINALS
PSG vs Liverpool
Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich
Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid
Sporting vs Arsenal
SEMI-FINALS
PSG/Liverpool vs Real Madrid/Bayern Munich
Barcelona/Atletico Madrid vs Sporting/Arsenal
Arsenal back-up goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga made a poor error for Man City’s opening goal in the final but Merson says he was not alone in going missing for the Gunners.
‘It’s a bad mistake from Kepa, a shocker of a mistake,’ Merson added. ‘But he wasn’t on the pitch when eight of Arsenal’s outfield players were getting ripped to shreds.
‘Only two Arsenal players could walk off the pitch with their head held high and they are William Saliba and Gabriel. They were outstanding, and they couldn’t do any more.
‘For the other eight players, Kepa’s done them a favour because everyone’s now talking about him and the mistake – but no-one will talk about the other players not deserving more than a five out of 10.
‘It was pretty worrying.’
Arsenal’s first game back after the international break is the FA Cup quarter-final against Championship side Southampton.
Arteta’s side then begin their last-eight Champions League tie against Portuguese giants Sporting before resuming their Premier League title charge at home to Bournemouth.
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