Tactical masterclass or mental block for Arteta?

ON THE BALL

- ROWAN CALLAGHAN

NICO O'Reilly the hero as Man City take the Carabao Cup, but the real question remains: Has this dented Arsenal's title charge?

(AFP)

FOR all the talk of evolution under Mikel Arteta, Sunday’s League Cup final felt like a step back into a familiar and uncomfortable narrative for Arsenal.

They were composed early on, controlled possession and looked every bit the side leading the English Premier League title race. But when the game shifted - as it so often does against a Pep Guardiola team - Arsenal had no answer. And that, more than the result itself, should concern Gunners fans most.

Because this wasn't just a cup final defeat. It was another reminder that Guardiola still holds a tactical edge over his former assistant — and perhaps a psychological one, too.