Arsenal are without Premier League action once again this weekend, as the Gunners instead prepare to battle for the first piece of silverware available this season.
Arsene Wenger’s side head to Wembley to tackle runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City in the League Cup final, with the French boss looking to clinch the one domestic trophy that has eluded him during his time in England.
Arsenal have a strong recent record in cup ties at Wembley but know that they face a testing challenge this weekend, with Wenger looking to prove that the Gunners are capable of overcoming the league’s finest to lift a cup tournament once again.
With pressure on Wenger rising as Arsenal sit eight points behind fourth-placed Chelsea in the Premier League, former Gunners striker Charlie Nicholas as discussed the importance of the League Cup to the experienced boss.
Speaking to Sky Sports, he said:
“It is massive for Arsene Wenger. If everybody is fit then he will finally pick his strongest ever line-up to play in a League Cup game because the profile of this competition is where his team are at right now.”
“It is way bigger for Arsenal than Manchester City, even before their quadruple hopes were ended. People would have argued that City going for the quadruple would have made it more significant but Pep Guardiola’s future doesn’t depend on it.”
“They’re going to wrap up the Premier League and they’re basically through to the Champions League quarter-finals, so this is just a bonus for them. Pep wants to answer the criticism of not winning a trophy in his first season, but if you told City they had to pull out of one competition then it would be this one, even though they’re in the final.”
Arsenal edged through in the Europa League last night despite a shock defeat to Swedish outfit Ostersunds at the Emirates Stadium and that’s increased the significance of this weekend’s clash.
