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Man City are still on track to win their fourth consecutive Carabao Cup after beating Arsenal at the Emirates.
The Spaniard under fire has not seen his team win a national game since November 1 and the Gunners were thrashed 4-1 at Emirates Stadium with reserve goalkeeper Alex Runarsson enduring a night to forget.
Arteta opted to make eight changes to the team that lost at Everton on Saturday and, while his former boss Pep Guardiola made seven changes, the difference in the respective squads was evident to all.
Gabriel Jesus, Riyad Mahrez, Phil Foden and Aymeric Laporte all finished off with all four City goals, while Alexandre Lacazette had briefly tied completely against the game’s streak in the first half.
FULL TIME | Progreso Blues Cup Carabao by Pep Guardiola! 💙
🔴 1-4 🔵 #City man | https://t.co/axa0klD5re pic.twitter.com/FvnNeM6Di5
– Manchester City (@ManCity) December 22, 2020
Runarsson should have done better with the opener and was to blame for Mahrez’s blow when he let a free kick pass straight through his grip, while the decision to start Gabriel Martinelli, who has just returned from a nine-month hiatus. , he also failed when he limped off injured.
Despite all the changes, the visitors looked much stronger on paper and took the lead when Jesús headed a cross near Oleksandr Zinchenko’s post with just over two minutes left.
Captain Fernandinho saw a long-range shot deflected behind for a corner shortly after as City dominated the opening exchanges.
City kept pushing and keeping their foot on the gas during the first half, but it would be Arsenal that tied out of nowhere.
After an opening ball was cleared in the area, Martinelli crossed from the baseline and Lacazette was on hand to pass Zack Steffen and level for the hosts just after half an hour.
Jesus almost restored the lead, but Runarsson, making his first domestic outing, made a good save from the Brazilian.
Martinelli may have just returned from injury, but he was Arsenal’s smartest player in the first 45 minutes.
He ran in an attempt to catch a pass from Joe Willock, but Steffen hit him and he apparently fell in agony.
The 19-year-old was able to see the rest of the half, but looked uncomfortable as he limped down the tunnel in the interval.
Martinelli emerged for the second half, but lasted less than three minutes before falling again, this time limping to be replaced by Nicolás Pepe.
City would regain the lead 10 minutes into the second half, this time Runarsson taking full blame for conceding when Mahrez took a direct free kick to the Icelandic international, only for the ball to slip away and end up in the back of the net. . .
Foden put City on the cusp in the semifinal, knocking Runarsson off his line and finishing with poise, although the Englishman was lucky that VAR wasn’t up and running because he was offside when the ball was played.
The tie ended as a match when Laporte celebrated his recall by heading a Foden cross from a short corner, a third goal in 18 minutes for Guardiola’s men.
As City continue on their quest to win a fourth consecutive Carabao Cup crown, Arsenal must now prepare for a London derby at home to Chelsea on Boxing Day.
Arteta desperately needs a win against the Blues if he wants to start turning things around before a favorable trio of games in and around the turn of the year.
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