Arsenal welcome Manchester City to the Emirates Stadium in the second Quarter-Final of 2020-21 Carabao Cup.
Arsenal are looking to reach the semi-finals for only for the second time in the last nine seasons, whereas City could book a spot in the final four for the seventh time in ten seasons.
Team News
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is again ruled out for Arsenal after sitting out Saturday’s defeat at Everton with tight calf muscles.
Granit Xhaka serves the last of a three match ban whilst Thomas Partey (thigh) is ruled out, although Gabriel returns following his one match suspension.
Man City will be without Aymeric Laporte and Gabriel Jesus due to knocks as they join Eric Garcia on sidelines.
Stat Attack
- Arsenal have lost three of their nine previous League Cup meetings against Manchester City (W5, D1, L3).
- Man City have won one of three away ties at Arsenal’s ground (W1, L2).
- Arsenal have failed to score in each of their last three League Cup clashes against City whilst conceding seven goals, plus lost two of those clashes by 3-0 results.
- Two of Man City’s five League Cup goals this season have come from Raheem Sterling.
- Arsenal have kept clean sheets in their two League Cup games so far this season, excluding penalty shootouts (W1, D1).
Prediction
If there is a game where Arsenal can look to halt their domestic freefall then it is this after Mikel Arteta’s Gunners beat City in their last Cup meeting in July.
I however don’t like it will be the case because Arsenal are just too defensively open which has repeatedly been their downfall in recent domestic games against quality opposition, but showed decent attacking intent from the flank despite wasting shots on Saturday at Everton.
Man City meanwhile were lucky to win at Southampton on Saturday but their finishing domestically this season has left a lot to be desired because they have repeatedly wasted brilliantly-worked opportunities through impatient finishing.
City though are ten times better defensively than Arsenal this season even by their own disappointing standards and it would be a shock if they lose this on current form.
Prediction: Arsenal 0-2 Manchester City
Result: Arsenal 1-4 Manchester City
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