Arsenal 0-2 Manchester City: Will winning the Carabao Cup final put too much pressure on Arsenal?

The first 45 minutes were an example of two teams canceling each other out – but once the second half began, the scene was set for a City win.

They were the more progressive and aggressive side. Their attacking intent began to overwhelm Arsenal, and the pressure became impossible to resist. Smoother on the ball and more cohesive than Arsenal’s organisation-based side, traffic flowed in only one direction.

Arrizabalaga had already set Arsenal’s nerves on edge after his ill-advised lunge from goal earned him a yellow card for a panicked foul on Jeremy Doku.

It was much worse for Arsenal and their goalkeeper.

It has been six years since Arteta won his only trophy as Arsenal manager, and the manner in which his side reached their predicament here will be a worry he must hope is not repeated as the pressure mounts in the final weeks of the season.

Former Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart told BBC Sport: “Manchester City played to win. I think that’s what they’ve been brought up to do for 10 or 15 years. I think now they’re very well set up to win. I think they were very disappointed after the FA Cup final at the end of last season.” [when they lost to Crystal Palace].

“A lot will be read about being flagged down or whatever, but I don’t think so. I think it was just about Manchester City winning trophies, which they’ve done regularly recently – that’s another big one.

“It’s also a big day for Pep Guardiola, who has won it all, but now stands alone in terms of managers winning the League Cup. He’s won it five times, one more than Sir Alex Ferguson. How much of that is a testament to his ability, his special touch and what he’s done over the years with Manchester City?”

Arteta is preparing for the battle to recover from this setback and focus on three titles, saying: “We spent eight amazing months with this team. Today is disappointing. We need to use that fire in the belly over the next two months to have an incredible season.”

He told BBC Radio 5 Live: “It hurts, especially for our players and our fans, because we really wanted to lift that cup. It was two very different halves, especially in the first half when I think we were better than them and had the two best chances of the game.”

“We didn’t benefit from that. Credit to them for what they did. It’s a really sad day.”

He must hope that this is the last sad day in what has been a fantastic season so far – for Guardiola, he will be hoping that City’s win, and the manner in which it was achieved, will get on Arsenal’s nerves.