Paul Dickov believes Arsenal might take their eye off the ball and hand Manchester City the advantage in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final.
The primary piece of silverware of the season might be won on Sunday when Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola’s sides meet at Wembley.
Arsenal beat London rivals Chelsea 4-2 on aggregate to succeed in the ultimate, while Man City overcame Carabao Cup holders Newcastle United within the semis.
Guardiola is hoping to grow to be the primary manager to win the Carabao Cup on five occasions, but there’s plenty on the road for Arsenal, too.
The Gunners are in search of to finish their trophy drought, having not lifted major silverware because the 2020 FA Cup, while they can even keep alive their hopes of a famous quadruple this season.
Arteta’s side are safely into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and Champions League, and hold a nine-point advantage over CIty within the Premier League as well.
And Dickov, who got here through at Arsenal before establishing himself at City, has a suspicion that the Gunners may prioritise their progress in those competitions over Sunday’s final.
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‘I believe it’s going to be one hell of a game,’ Dickov told Metro via Online Casino. ‘I believe it’s barely modified over the past couple of weeks.
‘Possibly two weeks ago, people checked out the cup final as a marker to where the Premier League would type of wind up, with one team getting one up on the opposite and getting a little bit of advantage for the run-in for the Premier League.
‘I believe the Arsenal now being 10 points clear, I’d say it’s completely out of their hands now for the Premier League.
‘So going into the sport Sunday now, I actually feel that there’s more at stake for City than there’s for Arsenal.’
Dickov continued: ‘Arsenal possibly have gotten larger fish to fry now, the Champions League, moving into the quarter-finals where there’s every likelihood with the draw that they’ve got that they will go all the way in which, and clearly being 10 points clear within the Premier League.
‘So I believe priority probably lies with Manchester City and Arsenal may not be fully focused, which two weeks ago wouldn’t have saved that, but it surely just shows you ways quickly things can change.’
Each side met earlier within the yr within the league, when Gabriel Martinelli’s superb late goal rescued some extent for Arsenal in a 1-1 draw on the Emirates.
Arteta’s side are unbeaten of their last six games in all competitions against City, but Dickov thinks Sunday could prove different.
‘I believe there are going to be goals, I actually do think so, he added.
‘Sometimes you construct up these finals, the massive games, and also you’re expecting fireworks and it finally ends up being a ball nil-nil draw and going to penalties. But I can’t see that in any respect.
‘I believe it’s the 2 best teams in England by a rustic mile. If you happen to’ve got to push me, I just think the last couple of weeks, what’s happened with City dropping off, I believe they may have that slightly bit more about them to go on and win it on Sunday.
‘I’d possibly say it’s more essential to them to win on Sunday and get that trophy. Whereas Arsenal, will they’ve eyes within the Premier League? Will they’ve eyes within the Champions League going forward? I believe that may swing this match in Manchester City’s favour.’
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