{"id":1147,"date":"2026-03-20T07:30:42","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T07:30:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/osport.com.ng\/?p=1147"},"modified":"2026-03-20T07:30:42","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T07:30:42","slug":"mikel-arteta-urged-to-start-arsenal-star-in-carabao-cup-final-a-real-handful-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osport.com.ng\/?p=1147","title":{"rendered":"Mikel Arteta urged to start Arsenal star in Carabao Cup final: ‘A real handful’ | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Arsenal\t<\/div>
Mikel Arteta has several key decisions to make (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Mikel Arteta has been urged to keep faith in Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres for the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City.<\/p>\n

Arsenal are looking to end their lengthy wait for a major trophy when they take on their Premier League arch-rivals at Wembley Stadium at the weekend.<\/p>\n

The Gunners already hold a nine-point lead over City in the league, and could pile further misery on Pep Guardiola\u2019s side by denying the Spaniard a fifth league cup title on Sunday.<\/p>\n

Arteta has several key decisions to make with his starting lineup at the weekend, not least whether to keep faith with cup keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga or restore the in-form David Raya for the final.<\/p>\n

And at the other end of the pitch, a decision will also have to be made, with the Arsenal boss chopping and changing between Kai Havertz and the aforementioned Gyokeres in recent matches.<\/p>\n

But while Havertz scored the injury-time goal to secure Arsenal\u2019s place in the final, former Gunners striker Paul Dickov believes that Gyokeres could prove more of a problem to City\u2019s back line.<\/p>\n

\u2018They are two different players as well, so I think whoever he goes for, it\u2019s going to be tough,\u2019 Dickov told Metro <\/strong>via UK\u00a0online casino gambling site\u00a0CasinoGrounds.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

\n

\t\t\t\tYour football fix\t\t\t<\/h2>\n

\n

Metro<\/strong>‘s Head of Sport James Goldman delivers punchy analysis, transfer talk and his take on the week’s biggest stories direct to your inbox every week.<\/p>\n

Sign up here, it’s an open goal.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Arsenal\t<\/div>
Viktor Gyokeres is pushing to start on Sunday (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018I think Kai Havertz, he\u2019s maybe a false nine, he causes problems with positions, he\u2019s very intelligent. <\/p>\n

\u2018But for me, being a centre-forward myself, I think Gyokeres would probably be the tougher to play against, because the one thing he does want to do is run in behind and that can be a real handful.<\/p>\n

\u2018City do play a high line, and Kai Havertz, as good as he is, isn\u2019t really somebody that you\u2019d associate with running into channels. He\u2019ll pick up little pockets in between the midfielders and the centre-half, clever movement and get himself in the boxes.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Arsenal\t<\/div>
Max Dowman was the star of the show last weekend (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018But Gyokeres likes to run the channels, likes to run in behind, and if there has been a criticism of City, it\u2019s been the high line and that it\u2019s maybe been too easy sometimes for teams to get in behind them. <\/p>\n

\u2018So from my own personal point of view, I would think Arteta should start Gyokeres, given the way City are likely to set up.\u2019<\/p>\n

Elsewhere in the Arsenal side, the calls have grown louder for teenage sensation Max Dowman to get more playing time after his impactful cameo last weekend against Everton.<\/p>\n

\n

But Dickov suspects Arteta will not bow to pressure and, instead, take his time introducing the 16-year-old to the rigours of first-team football.<\/p>\n

\u2018He\u2019s obviously a wonderful, wonderful talent. Probably one of the best talents that England have had since Phil Foden at that age,\u2019 Dickov said of Dowman. <\/p>\n

\u2018He\u2019s a talented, talented boy, but I think you\u2019ve got to be very, very careful as well. I thought it was a wonderful moment him scoring the goal at the weekend, but you\u2019ve just got to be very careful that it doesn\u2019t get blown out of proportion too much.<\/p>\n

\u2018I think just the fact that he\u2019s in and around the squad at Arsenal with the world-class players that they\u2019ve got, the fact that he\u2019s getting minutes on the pitch and he\u2019s being trusted by Mikel Arteta shows you how good he is and how good he can be. <\/p>\n

\u2018But if anything, I think Mikel\u2019s probably the right man. Mikel was there (at Man City) when Phil (Foden) was coming through, and I\u2019m sure he\u2019ll see comparisons, not just with how they play, but with the hype that\u2019s surrounding them all and how to manage that. <\/p>\n

\u2018I don\u2019t think he\u2019s got any better person than Mikel to manage that, along with the players around him as well, because he\u2019s going to need to be looked after.\u2019<\/p>\n

For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
\nFacebook, <\/strong>Twitter<\/a> and\u00a0Instagram<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Arrow<\/title>\n<\/svg>MORE: The ruthless decision Mikel Arteta must make for Arsenal to knock Man City off their perch<\/span><\/p>\n

Arrow<\/title>\n<\/svg>MORE: Micah Richards claims Arsenal would \u2018absolutely batter\u2019 potential Champions League opponent<\/span><\/p>\n

Arrow<\/title>\n<\/svg>MORE: \u2018Are we the farmers now?\u2019 Champions League results have English clubs feeling blue<\/span><\/p>\n
\n\t\t\tComment now<\/title>\n<\/svg><\/span>
\n\t\t\tComments<\/span><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google<\/title>\n<\/svg><\/span>
\n\t\t\t\tAdd as preferred source<\/span>
\n\t\t\t<\/section>\n
\n
\n

Football Newsletter \u2013 In The Mixer<\/h4>\n

Punchy analysis, transfer talk and more from Metro’s football experts, sent straight to your inbox every week.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n