Carabao Cup: History with Arsenal
With the Carabao Cup Final less than twelve hours away, Pep Guardiola will be making sure his players leave everything on the Wembley pitch. The first trophy under the Guardiola era was always going to be the most important, and difficult to get.
For the season the Blues are having, Pep has always stated that it will all be for nothing if trophies are not put in the cabinet. As a side gets more accustomed to winning together then winning together becomes easier. Now, and after the defeat by Wigan in the FA Cup, it has become more vital.
Suddenly the quadruple which was alive last Sunday, could be down to an outside double come tonight. The League Cup, which has been rejected by some clubs, does hold great memories for former players.
Former Players:
This week I managed to get an ex Arsenal and ex Manchester City player to reflect on their favorite League Cup moment as a player. David Hillier, who played 142 times for Arsenal has no problem recalling his most memorable moment in the League Cup:
"Made my debut v Chester 1990 in this competition had to stand up in dressing room and give a speech…….. more daunting than the game!"
Meanwhile, ex City player Spencer Prior’s memory was City related, just not Manchester. Playing for Leicester, before eventually moving to the Blues via Derby County, Spencer won the trophy. Playing against the superstars of Middlesbrough, who had attacking players such as Emerson, Juninho and Fabrizio Ravanelli.
"Highlight was winning it with Leicester City in ’97 against Boro at Hillsborough in the replay."
The replay took place in Sheffield, at the Hillsborough Stadium, where American keeper Kasey Keller kept a clean sheet, helped by Spencer Prior, who played in both games.
History Between The Two Sides:
Between the two sides, Arsenal and Manchester City have faced each other in this competition eight times. A clear line can be drawn from results before the City takeover, and after.
Since the first meeting, on 18th January 1978, City have played Arsenal in the League Cup three times at home and three times away. Winning on none of those occasions, and scoring only four goals, it doesn’t bode well.
The single draw took the Gunners to a replay at their ground, which we lost 1-0. Although, to be fair, the majority of those games came in the 1980’s era. That era, as we know, wasn’t the most successful in City history.
Next: Manchester City: League Cup Hot Shots
Post take-over though and it’s much better reading. Twice the sides have met, and twice City have won. In 2009/10 the two would face each other, at the Etihad, in the Quarter Final stage, with goals from Carlos Tevez, Vlad Weiss and Shaun Wright-Philips.
Two seasons later, and at the same stage in the competition, we met again. This time it was in London, but the outcome was the same. This time a single Sergio Aguero goal saw City progress to the Semi Final, where Liverpool halted the run.