So it’s City vs. United in the semi-final of the Carling Cup, that’s Manchester City and Manchester United if you are unaware. But what does this mean for City’s standing within the English game and have they semi-cemented their place at the top of the tree, leapfrogging Arsenal, the team they conquered in the Carling Cup quarter-final.
It may be a bit premature to claim Manchester City are the next big thing and they have reached the top of English football given it was only cup tie and Arsenal fielded a weakened but none the less, City have already defeated the Gunners this season and eliminating them from one of their only realistic trophy chances will have dented the Gunners confidence and stature for sure.
I can’t even remember the last time City won a trophy; in fact, I wasn’t even born when it happened. Given Arsenal have relied on the ‘youngsters’ excuse for many a year, but it appears to me Wenger has exhausted this explanation as he has a side in Premier League terms that has quite a number of old heads present. Coupled with the drubbing from Chelsea at the weekend, have the wheels fallen off for Wenger and Arsenal and will they be overtaken by the Citizens this season?
I would certainly say so, Hughes will more then likely go on another spending spree in January, thus strengthening his squad further. Even though they have gone on a seven match ‘drawing’ streak in the Premiership, I think they will make a surge up the table as of January and topple Arsenal, who for me have a paper thin squad.
It will be interesting to see how all the star names Hughes has at his disposal react to being benched every now and then, also how they will react to the new found status as a member of ‘The Big Four/Five/Six’ etc.
Two teams have exchanged places Arsenal on they way down, and City on the way up!
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