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Arsenal will be determined to lay down a marker in the Premier League title race this weekend
Wayne Bridge believes Arsenal will be given a 'massive boost' to their chances of winning the Premier League if they can defeat Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final. The Gunners will lock horns with Pep Guardiola's side at Wembley Stadium on Sunday afternoon as Mikel Arteta looks to finally get his hands on a piece of silverware.
Since replacing Unai Emery in the dugout just over six years ago, the Arsenal boss has only ever won one major trophy, and it was with his predecessor's squad. Arteta led the north Londoners to a 2-1 win over Chelsea in the FA Cup final in 2020, which was behind-closed-doors and postponed to August 2020 due to the pandemic.
The Spaniard extended Arsenal's record as the most successful club in the competition with 14 titles. Although the Gunners have since won a couple of Community Shields, Arteta hasn't lifted a major piece of silverware since.
The former Manchester City assistant coach will be desperate to finally end his barren run this weekend. According to Bridge, there's a lot more at stake than a trophy on the line, with Arteta and Guardiola also battling it out for the Premier League title.
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On whether the winner of the Carabao Cup could go on to become champions of England in May, the former Chelsea defender said on behalf of 10bet: "I think if you go and win it, you keep that winning mentality, so it gives you confidence.
"Maybe it can make you overconfident as well. But if Arsenal go and win it, that will give them a massive boost for the rest of the season."
Arsenal are currently nine points clear at the top of the table, but Manchester City have a game in hand. The two title challengers are also set to lock horns at the Etihad Stadium in April.
"Until recently, it was in both of their hands, but at the moment, it was in both of their hands," added Bridge. "But at the moment it’s Arsenal’s title to lose and throw away, especially after how the results played out at the weekend."
Manchester City will hope to return to winning ways on Sunday afternoon following their 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League last-16. Guardiola's side crashed out of the competition, losing 5-1 on aggregate.
On whether the Spanish giants gave Arsenal the 'blueprint' to winning the Carabao Cup final, Bridge said: "Not really. I don’t think they’ve shown them how to do it. Arsenal will have their own style of play.
"Maybe City weren’t quite as bad as people made out, but there was that mistake from Donnarumma. I don’t think Real Madrid have shown Arsenal the way to beat them, though. Arsenal will go about it in their own way.
"It’s very difficult to play against Man City. I remember watching them against Sunderland the other day, and Sunderland barely got out of their own 18-yard box.
"Most of the time, their players were stuck in the defending third, but they still managed to get a result with a 0–0. It’s very difficult to say you’re going to beat Man City in one particular way.
"I’m sure Arteta will have his own ideas about what he wants to do. But football is always changing, and Real Madrid playing against Man City is totally different from Arsenal playing against Man City."
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