Merson: Arsenal's Quadruple Dream 'Very Much Alive' If They Conquer City at Wembley

The Carabao Cup final showdown between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley takes centre stage this weekend, and Arsenal legend Paul Merson reckons it's genuinely difficult to separate the two sides.

Merson's assessment of the fixture is cautiously optimistic for the Gunners, who sit atop the Premier League and are hunting multiple trophies this season. City remain formidable opponents, though, and the former Arsenal man acknowledges the challenge ahead.

"It's a hard one to call, if I'm being honest," Merson wrote in his column. "Manchester City impressed me even with ten men against Real Madrid, but I don't reckon they'll keep a clean sheet here."

He points to Arsenal's confidence as a key factor. "They've got that swagger about them. They know they're good," he explained, highlighting how the Gunners' attacking prowess could be decisive. Merson anticipates Eberechi Eze will feature prominently, noting the midfielder's comfort at Wembley after his FA Cup final success with Crystal Palace last season.

The pundit predicts Arteta will deploy Leandro Trossard, Bukayo Saka, and Viktor Gyokeres alongside Eze in attack, with Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi operating in midfield.

On the goalkeeper question, Merson advocates for Kepa Arrizabalaga to retain his place. Despite acknowledging David Raya's world-class credentials—citing his outstanding performances against Everton and Leverkusen—Merson believes loyalty matters. "He's got you this far and hasn't let the team down. He deserves the start," he reasoned.

For City, Erling Haaland and Antoine Semenyo are certainties in attack, though Merson suggests Pep Guardiola must decide whether Jeremy Doku's impact from the bench outweighs Rayan Cherki's potential contribution.

Merson's prediction? Arsenal edge it 2-1.

The bigger picture, though, is what a victory could unlock. "If the Gunners win this final, the quadruple dream is still very much on," Merson insisted. With the league title effectively secured and a favourable FA Cup draw ahead, plus a Champions League quarter-final against Sporting to navigate, Merson sees a genuine pathway to silverware collection.

"They could face Barcelona or Atletico in the semi-final, but that's football. I'm not giving up on this," he concluded, backing Arsenal's credentials across all competitions despite the undoubted difficulty of the task ahead.