Arsenal sets a forgettable record after defeat in Carabao Cup

The 0-2 defeat to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final not only meant Arsenal missed out on a title, but also prolonged a regrettable record: the longest sequence of final losses in the competition's history.

Since their last triumph in the 1992/93 season, Arsenal have appeared in four more Carabao Cup finals, but all ended in defeat. More broadly, this marks the seventh time the Gunners have fallen in the final match, more than any other team in Carabao Cup history. A statistic sufficient to make this tournament a cursed ground for the North London club.

Thus, the loss to Man City was not merely a defeat. It is a repetition of history, and worse, it came at a time when Arsenal were expected to break the jinx. Mikel Arteta's squad entered the final with high form and ambition to win their first trophy since the 2019/20 FA Cup. Yet ultimately, they once again stopped short of the finish line.

This is also the fourth time Arteta has finished second with Arsenal, a number that begins to raise questions about him and Arsenal in decisive moments. Under the Spanish strategist, Arsenal have clearly progressed, from a team outside the top four to a title contender in multiple arenas. However, the final step – grasping a trophy – remains what they lack.

It is not accidental that Arsenal over many years have often been associated with a lack of nerve in critical phases. This season was seen as an opportunity for them to erase that stereotype. But the defeat at Wembley unintentionally revived old doubts.

The impact of this defeat does not stop at the trophy aspect. It also directly affects the long race, especially in the Premier League – where Arsenal are fiercely competing with the same Man City. As Gary Neville noted on Sky Sport after the match

"The impact of this victory could be huge… Man City needed a morale boost, and they just got it. Arsenal must quickly bounce back, they still have time to recover, but now Mikel Arteta faces a task that is far from easy."

Nevertheless, the door is not completely closed for Arsenal. They still lead the Premier League, and are also present in the FA Cup and Champions League. The advantage in schedule and league position remains in Arteta and his team's hands.

The issue is no longer about expertise. Arsenal have proven they are good enough to compete. What they need now is the nerve to overcome defeat, something that has repeatedly caused them to falter in the past.