Arsenal lose Carabao Cup final, stay nine points ahead
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- Arsenal lost 2-0 to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final before the international break.
- Arsenal still lead the Premier League by nine points over Manchester City despite having played one more match.
- Mikel Arteta said the defeat will make the team better and urged players to use the disappointment as motivation for the season’s crucial phases.
- Arsenal will play Southampton in the FA Cup quarter‑final, targeting a return to Wembley for the May final.
- Noni Madueke’s knee injury sustained on international duty was confirmed as not serious, with Arteta saying he could be back within days.
- Eberechi Eze remains out with a calf problem and will miss the FA Cup tie.
- Martin Odegaard is in contention for the FA Cup tie, with fellow defender Jurrien Timber also expected to feature, while Piero Hincapie remains unavailable.
Why it matters: Arsenal retain a nine‑point Premier League lead despite the Cup defeat, meaning the club’s title chase stays intact while the loss provides a concrete motivational tool for Arteta’s squad ahead of crucial FA Cup and Champions League ties and also keeps the team’s focus on the upcoming FA Cup quarter‑final versus Southampton.
