Arsenal
Cup Victory Divides Manchester City Camp Over Premier League Title Effect
Guardiola downplayed Carabao Cup impact; players insist momentum has revived City’s title hopes. etc.
Manchester City’s Carabao Cup success produced contrasting reactions from the manager and his players over the implications for the Premier League title race. Pep Guardiola praised the performance but cautioned that the trophy might not alter the campaign against Arsenal. “I would like to have nine points in front of Arsenal,” he admitted, even asking whether he would “change” the trophy for that lead. He added: “It will have no impact,” calling the competitions “different competitions.” Guardiola also warned that “They will be more concerned when they come to [the] Etihad,” a reference to the league meeting on April 19, and suggested the win could help his side against Liverpool in the FA Cup quarterfinals.
Players presented a starker assessment. Nico O’Reilly told the CBS Sports studio: “Yeah, 100%. The blood never went—we’ve always smelt blood. We’re confident in ourselves, we know we can do it, they’ve got to come to our place which is a tough place to come to as everyone has seen this season. So we do smell blood and we’ve got to keep going. It does a lot for us [winning the final], builds momentum and just push on now. Obviously it’s a big blow for them. They were going for everything, just as we were [before defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League].”
Rodri echoed those sentiments, calling the match’s effect “A lot, a lot,” and explained: “That’s why I say it’s a game not only for this title [Carabao Cup] but to show that we can beat them.” He conceded “There is still a lot to do,” and reflected on City’s Champions League exit: “and it’s clear we didn’t want to go out of the Champions League, but we went out and now we have to take the positives, we have more time to prepare for the games. So that’s something to take into account—but we also have to celebrate this. The Real Madrid game was pretty tough [losing 5–1 on aggregate ] but the team has recovered. We knew it was a very important game against Arsenal not only because of the title but also because we had to face the best team in the league. Now we need to rest, go back to the next round of internationals and come back with the optimism that we still have two more competitions to fight for.”
Arsenal retain a nine-point lead, though City have a game in hand and can reduce the gap to three with victory at the Etihad on April 19. Mikel Arteta vowed: “We’re going to use this disappointment and this fire in the belly to have the most amazing two months that we have ever [had] together,” adding: “That’s on us and we’ll manage that energy in the right way. Now we have to go through that pain and disappointment and it’s normal and it’s part of football.” Arsenal have lost only four matches across all competitions this season and have followed earlier defeats with double-digit unbeaten runs, a pattern they will seek to replicate after Wembley.
AC Milan
Why AC Milan Tops Gabriel Jesus’s Summer Options
At Selhurst Park Jesus lifted another title; with one year at Arsenal, his future unsettled more yet
Gabriel Jesus closed the season at Selhurst Park with a title that echoed his 2022 debut for Arsenal. That moment crystallised a familiar dilemma: he remains part of a title-winning squad but is no longer a guaranteed starter.
“A lot is said about my future, and I’m very honest. It’s not easy for a player who always wants to evolve and help on the pitch with what’s been happening,” he told ESPN Brazil after Arsenal’s title triumph.
“The future belongs to God. I still have one year left on my Arsenal contract. I want to play and prove to myself that I can still play at a high level.”
This season Jesus served as a useful option for Arsenal but operated as the club’s third-choice centre forward behind Viktor Gyökeres and Kai Havertz. For a player determined to play regularly, the most straightforward route would be a move away from the Emirates Stadium.
Among the destinations under consideration, AC Milan stands out. The Rossoneri have dismantled much of their hierarchy after missing out on Champions League qualification: manager Massimiliano Allegri, sporting director Igli Tare, technical director Geoffrey Moncada and CEO Giorgio Furlani have all departed. That upheaval leaves the squad in flux and makes further changes among playing staff likely.
Milan’s attack needs clarity. Rafael Leão, described in the draft as a frustrating figurehead, could be moved on. Leão and Christian Pulisic were the only two Milan players to reach double-digit goals this season. Recognised strikers Santiago Giménez and Niclas Füllkrug managed one goal each, while Christopher Nkunku scored eight. The club’s centre-forward issue predates Allegri, and a new recruitment approach could prioritise a proven option.
Jesus arrives with caveats. Two major knee injuries have affected his career, and his sharpness has faded, but there were enough glimmers this season to suggest he can still perform at a high level. High wages, however, could deter some suitors, which is why clubs such as Juventus and Napoli are judged unlikely to mount serious bids.
Milan combines need and the potential capacity to act, making it the most logical summer destination among those discussed in the original assessment.
Arsenal
Madueke Injury Concern Clouds Arsenal’s Final Week Preparations
Madueke’s late exit at Selhurst Park casts doubt on his fitness for the Champions League final today
Arsenal’s title celebrations at the end of the 2025/26 Premier League campaign were muted by a late injury concern for Noni Madueke. The champions travelled south for a 2-1 victory at Crystal Palace during a Public Holiday weekend in the United Kingdom, a result that allowed rotation ahead of next week’s Champions League final in Budapest against Paris Saint-Germain.
Mikel Arteta used the match to rest key starters. Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice were unused substitutes and William Saliba did not make the matchday squad. Saka is set for a 90-minute outing in the final, while Madueke, who joined from Chelsea last summer, has been earmarked as a bench option to provide pace and direct running.
Madueke scored his second Premier League goal of the season on Sunday, but was forced off late at Selhurst Park with an apparent niggle. The winger grasped the back of his left leg when speaking to the physio on-field and looked in some discomfort. Arteta offered no post-match update, although The Standard reported that the winger was moving freely during their title celebrations and that there were no signs of a limp.
Arsenal’s wider fitness picture was also outlined. Mikel Merino is recovering from foot surgery and, according to the club’s list, only a pair of right backs remain absent. Ben White’s knee injury at West Ham United earlier this month has ended his World Cup hopes. Jurriën Timber has been out since March with a groin issue. Arteta had been hopeful Timber could play some part in the final, but his omission from the matchday squad on Sunday suggests he will not be ready to face one of the tournament’s in-form players.
If Timber is unavailable, Cristhian Mosquera is expected to line up against Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Madueke’s late exit at Selhurst Park has placed his availability for the Champions League final in doubt, leaving Arsenal to assess whether the winger can still offer a bench impact in Budapest.
Arsenal
Players Who Defined an Unsettling 2025/26 Premier League Season
Goalkeepers, long throws and midfield mastery cut a distinctive shape across 2025/26 Premier League.
A season that divided spectators nonetheless produced clear individual standouts. “Most of the games I see in the Premier League are not, for me, a joy to watch,” Liverpool manager Arne Slot admitted back in March, but within that contested landscape a handful of performers emerged with compelling cases for special recognition.
Between the posts, the familiar excellence of David Raya stood out. It is not normal to keep a clean sheet in more than half of your Premier League appearances and it certainly isn’t standard to win three consecutive Golden Gloves. It is increasingly normal for Raya to be the champions’ bravest passer and a defensive cornerstone.
Brentford’s Michael Kayode became a modern curiosity and a creative force. The fullback’s gender reveal in February — hurling a throw-in into an empty goal at the Gtech Community Stadium that prompted pink flares — captured his commitment to the long throw. “People think that you can play in the Premier League just because you have a good throw-in?” the Italy U21 international scoffed. “That’s crazy!” Kayode, a nominee for Best Young Player, completed the fourth-most dribbles in the division, ranking above Rayan Cherki, Bukayo Saka and Florian Wirtz, and helped drive the over-performing Bees upfield.
William Saliba approached defending with efficient precision, while Gabriel’s aggressive conception of beauty produced a consistently dominant campaign. “I think beautiful football is not only a beautiful pass,” the Brazilian theorized, “but also when you defend, the way you defend.”
Versatility shone at Manchester City through Nico O’Reilly, who spent most of the season at left back, offered ballast in Rodri’s absence and even operated as a box-crashing No. 8. “He has been a surprise,” Guardiola admitted, “even for me.”
Dominik Szoboszlai answered his own challenge: “I need to improve in a lot of things.” He did, dominating matches with a blend of power and finesse even as Liverpool colleagues did not match his trajectory.
At Manchester United, Casemiro rediscovered form, supplying defensive coverage and nine Premier League goals — a tally Ryan Giggs never matched for Manchester United after turning 22. Arsenal’s Declan Rice remained the team’s dependable linchpin after Arteta warned the squad their tilt would be a “roller coaster.” “There’s going to be ups, downs, so much talk,” the midfielder reflected. “The good thing with Declan is he’s so consistent, so reliable,” Arteta acknowledged.
Finally, Antoine Semenyo produced a standout season: after carrying Bournemouth’s frontline for six months he moved to Manchester City and, since his debut in January, no City player has matched his seven non-penalty Premier League goals.
