“They dropped a bit physically” – Rodri makes Arsenal personality admission after Carabao Cup triumph | OneFootball

Manchester City midfielder Rodri has admitted his side sensed a physical edge over Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley on Sunday.

The Blues won their first trophy in two seasons as a brace from Nico O’Reilly helped his boyhood club to a 2-0 win over the Premier League leaders.

City remain in the race to win a fifth league title in six seasons but remain nine points adrift of Arsenal in second place, though the Gunners have played an additional game and will visit the Etihad Stadium in April.

It is unlikely that Pep Guardiola‘s men will usurp the Gunners once again in the final stages of the season but Rodri believes that victory in the Carabao Cup final gives his side a monumental psychological boost for the remainder of the campaign.

Carabao Cup has ‘a lot’ of bearing on title race, says Rodri

City have left themselves a mountain to climb in the title race after back-to-back draws with Nottingham Forest and West Ham in March, though it is not over until it is truly over when it comes to Guardiola’s side.

On the impact of the Carabao Cup final on the Premier League title race, Rodri said: “A lot, a lot,” in conversation with John Cross of Mirror Football after Sunday’s cup triumph.

“That’s why I told you it’s a game not only for this title but to show we can beat them(Arsenal). Still a lot to do and we didn’t want to go out of the UEFA Champions League (against Real Madrid in the Round of 16).

“But now we have to take the positives, more time to prepare for games. So that’s something to take into account.”

Rodri: It was a matter of personality in Wembley face-off

Rodri is infamous amongst the Arsenal fanbase for his brutal honesty on the Gunners’ conservative approach when visiting the Etihad Stadium in the past and parking the bus so as to ensure they avoid defeat.

After City beat Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final last week, the Spain international added: “It was more a matter of personality wanting to go for the game, not letting them take control.

“I felt they dropped a bit physically, we detected it and wanted to go for them. You can tell when you have players good in the area and Nico O’Reilly has again shown his potential.”

The 29-year-old could be leaving Manchester City for Real Madrid this summer but as he mulls over his future, the Ballon d’Or winner will be desperate to go all the way in the FA Cup and make it as difficult as his side can for Arsenal in the league run-in.