After little over 48 hours from securing a great point at Anfield on Sunday, Mancinis men travel down saff! The Quarter Finals of the Carling Cup against Arsenal represent City's first real chance of a cup this season.
In the League Cup City have faced off against Arsenal seven times, dating back over three decades, with the earliest being a draw in the 1978 tournament. The replay was at Highbury and a single goal secured it for the hosts. In fact out of the seven ties in the Carling Cup in its various guises over the years, City have only not lost twice! Obviously the draw I just mentioned was the first and two seasons ago we played them at this exact same stage (although it was in Manchester rather than London) and we ran out convincing 3-0 winners with Sweepie, Vlad Weiss and Carlos Tevez scoring the goals.
Whatever happened to that crazy Argentinian?
All the other ties have ended either two or three, one in favour of the Gunners and never have we won in this cup competition at Arsenals ground. In fact you would have to go back to 1904 and the FA Cup second round to see City's last cup win on Arsenal turf. 2-0 was the result that day and we would go on to win the competition.
In all competitions though it has only been a mere 36 years since we last won at Arsenal. If we win today that will be another record that has stood since 1976 that will be torn up! (If we actually win the League Cup that will add a third!)
City have changed in recent times though and are different from the side that most recently were put out of this competition by Arsenal in 2004. Clichy, Nasri, Toure have al switched from London to Manchester and could all face their old club tonight.
I think Mancini will certainly be looking at this as a cup he can win and as a result and with the next game, at home to Norwich City being five days away, you may not see as much rotation as some fans are suggesting. For example, Hart may very well keep his place between the posts in favour of Pantilimon who really hasn't impressed me in the handful of starts he has had.
City will be without Barry and Balotelli after their cards at the weekend but that will not be as devastating to City as the potential losses to Arsenal could be. Wenger could be without RVP, Theo, Ramsey and Diaby for the tie which most certainly could swing the tie into City's favour.
It will certainly be a tough ask for City as Arsenal are now starting to find their form and history is against City. However City will be fighting to hold on to their undefeated domestic run so far this season, the odds are against us and that is exactly how we like it
PA Cityboy Lineup: Hart, Zabaletta, Toure(K), Kompany, Kolarov, Nasri, Hargreaves, Johnson(A), DeJong, Toure(Y), Dzeko.
Written By: PA Cityboy (www.facebook.com/pacityboy)
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