Arsene Wenger has never won the League Cup
Being the underdogs could be an advantage for Arsenal in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Manchester City, says Charlie Nicholas.
The Gunners are underdogs going into this weekend’s game, live on Sky Sports, and have never won the competition in Arsene Wenger’s time at the club.
Nicholas thinks the lack of pressure on Wenger and his side could work in their favour, however, and told The Debate Arsenal – who he called a “poor-man’s Liverpool” – need to emulate the Reds if they are to come out on top.
He said: “It’s always the problems with the smaller teams, and they’ve been lucky this season. The challenge of the great team they’re facing here can help.
“It can suit them more. What’s he got to fear? They’re underdogs, they were underdogs against Chelsea last season, and in the semi-finals this season, and they got through it.
Sol Campbell told the Debate that the current Manchester City side are better than Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’.
Sol Campbell told the Debate that the current Manchester City side are better than Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’
“They are beatable. You can get at Manchester City, Liverpool showed the way forward.
“Arsenal are a poor man’s Liverpool at the moment, it’s picking that right pass for Ozil, getting Ramsey in the team, and Arsenal have to go open this game up.
“It’s a free swing for Arsenal, they’re going to take a risk at the back because they have to.”
Sol Campbell feels City are as good as the unbeaten Arsenal side he was a major part of in 2003-4, calling the league leaders “unbelievable”.
And he feels the underdog tag may help the Gunners play at Wembley, as they look to win the tournament for the first time in 25 years
He said: “You go back to when Arsenal played Chelsea [in the FA Cup final], they were nowhere near favourites but they turned up, played brilliantly and won the game. They surprised everybody, and that can happen again. It can easily happen.
“Every era is different, but how they’ve been playing is fabulous. The confidence from the keeper, all the way to the front line and the bench as well.
“They’ve got a fantastic side, and yeah, they are as good – they’ve been playing unbelievably. I was very happy that Liverpool won the game.”
