{"id":1249,"date":"2026-03-20T13:03:52","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T13:03:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/osport.com.ng\/?p=1249"},"modified":"2026-03-20T13:03:52","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T13:03:52","slug":"paul-merson-claims-mikel-arteta-needs-to-make-a-brave-decision-that-could-upset-fans-before-arsenal-vs-man-city-read-arsenal-f-c","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osport.com.ng\/?p=1249","title":{"rendered":"Paul Merson claims Mikel Arteta needs to make a brave decision that could upset fans before Arsenal vs Man City &#8211; Read Arsenal F.C."},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Arsenal play Manchester City at Wembley on Sunday with silverware on the line, and Paul Merson has urged Mikel Arteta to make a brave team selection decision ahead of the clash, which may ultimately be unpopular.<\/p>\n<p>The Gunners strolled past Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday night, courtesy of a stunning strike from Eberechi Eze and a neat finish from Declan Rice. This result saw them progress into the quarter-final of the Champions League for the third consecutive season, with an unprecedented quadruple subsequently still on the cards.<\/p>\n<p>City endured a very different round of 16 tie in Europe\u2019s elite competition, as they were comfortably beaten 5-1 on aggregate by Real Madrid. Pep Guardiola\u2019s side will likely be low on morale after this damaging defeat, while they\u2019ll also be without key defenders Marc Guehi and Josko Gvardiol for the trip to Wembley.<\/p>\n<p>The two sides\u2019 differing recent fortunes should play into Arsenal\u2019s hands, and the Gunners should be confident that they can win the Carabao Cup for the first time since 1993.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<p>\n          <iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Eze Wonder Goal! \ud83e\udd2f | Arsenal 2-0 Bayer Leverkusen ( 3-1 AGG) | UEFA Champions League Highlights\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/8XTKXPH3TAk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n        <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Paul Merson provides David Raya vs Kepa Arrizabalaga verdict ahead of Man City clash<\/h2>\n<p>Perhaps Arteta\u2019s most difficult decision regarding his starting eleven heading to Wembley is what to do in between the sticks. David Raya is the first-choice goalkeeper and generally plays all the big matches, but Kepa Arrizabalaga has started every single minute thus far in the Carabao Cup.<\/p>\n<p>Taking the latter out of the side for the final, given that he\u2019s helped the Gunners get there, would be harsh, although ultimately winning is all that matters. Kepa has already hinted that he\u2019ll start the showdown with City, revealing to the media how he prepares to deal with the Wembley atmosphere.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have played in the League Cup final before, but I have played many finals in my career; I have been lucky in that way,\u201d he told the Sun.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo I will just approach the game the best way that I can. We will prepare everything in the best way, because at the end, the aim is to win.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Kepa Arrizabalaga <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Arsenal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@Arsenal<\/a>\u2019s penalty shootout saviour &#x1f9e4; <\/p>\n<p>18\/19 \u2013 Finalist&#x1f948; <br \/>21\/22 \u2013 Finalist &#x1f948; <br \/>25\/26 \u2013 &#x2753; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/KuSuxnNXjM\">pic.twitter.com\/KuSuxnNXjM<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Carabao Cup (@Carabao_Cup) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Carabao_Cup\/status\/2003782345829273749?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 24, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Arteta would be forgiven for calling upon Raya to help end Arsenal\u2019s trophy drought, but it appears he\u2019s leaning towards Kepa. Former Arsenal forward and now pundit Merson believes this is the correct decision to make, even if it\u2019s unpopular with supporters.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe big decision that Arsenal need to make is whether they go with Kepa Arrizabalaga or David Raya in goal,\u201d he wrote for Sportskeeda. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cKepa has been first-choice in the Carabao Cup, and I think they should stick with him. It\u2019s only fair because he played well and got you to this stage.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut I must admit, Raya is world-class! The saves he made against Everton and Leverkusen, absolutely phenomenal. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cHowever, if I were the manager, I would still stick to my principles and choose Kepa as the keeper for the final. He\u2019s not let the team down in this competition and deserves to start.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Paul Merson predicts Mikel Arteta\u2019s forward-line for Man City final<\/h2>\n<p>Goalkeeper is not the only position of contention in the Arsenal team ahead of Sunday. Up front, Arteta has to pick between Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz, while Noni Madueke will be pushing for a place over Bukayo Saka on the right, and Gabriel Martinelli will be fighting Leandro Trossard for a spot off the left.<\/p>\n<p>Merson believes the Spanish coach will simply roll out the same front four he used against Leverkusen on Tuesday night.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have a feeling Mikel Arteta will go with Leandro Trossard, Bukayo Saka and Viktor Gyokeres to form the attacking quartet for Arsenal with Eze. Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi will sit behind them in midfield.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He added on Eze: \u201cArsenal have that swagger about them. They know they are good. Eberechi Eze likes playing at Wembley too. He scored in the final and lifted the FA Cup with Crystal Palace at Wembley last season. I think he keeps his place in the starting line-up for this game.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<p>\n          <iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Martinelli scores DRAMATIC 93rd-minute equaliser! | Arsenal 1-1 Man City | Premier League Highlights\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/C6nl97mS_0c?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n        <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Paul Merson makes Arsenal vs Man City prediction<\/h2>\n<p>It will be an intense affair at Wembley, and the outcome may ultimately be decided by what happens early in the match. <\/p>\n<p>City came out of the blocks quickly at the Emirates back in September, scoring inside the opening 15 minutes. The Gunners were then chasing the game for the majority of the match, before they finally scored an equaliser in the dying embers.<\/p>\n<p>If Arteta\u2019s side can weather City\u2019s early storm, then they should be in a strong position to win the game in the second half, with Guardiola\u2019s outfit generally fading after the interval this season.<\/p>\n<p>Merson has tipped his former club to win their first piece of silverware since 2020.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Premier League leaders will want this to be a dull game because it suits them. If it becomes end-to-end, City have a chance in my opinion,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf I had to pick a team, I would go Arsenal. However, that doesn\u2019t mean it will be easy. We know Manchester City can play, and if they get going, they can hurt any team.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI believe the quadruple dream is still very much on if the Gunners win this final. The Premier League is done and dusted, they have a good draw in the FA Cup and face Sporting in the Champions League quarter-final. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cI know they could face Barcelona or Atletico in the semi-final, but we all know how difficult they are to beat as a unit. So I\u2019m not giving up hopes!\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Merson\u2019s Prediction:<\/strong> Arsenal 2-1 Manchester City<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Arsenal play Manchester City at Wembley on Sunday with silverware on the line, and Paul<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1250,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1249","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arsenal"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/osport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1249","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/osport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/osport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/osport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/osport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1249"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/osport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1249\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/osport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1250"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/osport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1249"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/osport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1249"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/osport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1249"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}