How Pep Guardiola created new problems for Mikel Arteta to solve that could define title race

Amid the familiar scenes of Manchester City celebrating a trophy, which will be all too painful for Arsenal , there were a few different images around Wembley. One was Pep Guardiola having an extended little chat with Thomas Tuchel as the Catalan went up to lift the Carabao Cup . The City manager looked notably thrilled , as if it was the first trophy of his silverware-laden time at the club .

Declan Rice is of course still waiting for that at Arsenal, and Tuchel conspicuously spoke to the midfielder that bit longer as he went by beforehand. Rice did seem the most affected by the defeat, amid a general air of deflation for Arsenal. Pep Guardiola got one over on his ‘apprentice’ Mikel Arteta at Wembley (AFP via Getty Images) It perhaps says enough that none of them looked as down as they did after the 2-2 draw with Wolves.

Mikel Arteta of course spoke of a “bad taste” at not getting that medal, but they know the one they really want. Some at City were meanwhile talking about now taking this into the title race , of going anew. Guardiola certainly seemed revitalised.

That’s also the effect that a local youngster, in the form of Nico O’Reilly, performing as he did can have. There’ll be that new confidence – at least for now. This is the context the Carabao Cup tends to generally be put in, of course, even if it still has a value in its own right.