Arsenal Must Hope Chelsea Upset City as Cascarino Warns of Etihad Stumble

Arsenal's title hopes have taken a significant knock over the past fortnight, with back-to-back defeats representing a new low for Mikel Arteta's campaign. The Gunners fell to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final before suffering the ignominy of an FA Cup exit at the hands of Championship outfit Southampton, effectively ending any realistic Quadruple ambitions.

Yet the Premier League and Champions League remain on the table, and Arsenal still hold a commanding nine-point advantage at the summit. However, that cushion comes with a caveat: City possess a game in hand, and the title contenders are set to lock horns at the Etihad later this month.

This is where the concern deepens. Pundit Tony Cascarino has delivered a stark assessment of Arsenal's prospects, suggesting the Gunners will require outside intervention to pip City to the crown.

"I would say if you ask me today and Arsenal have to go to the Etihad and get a victory, I think City will beat them," Cascarino told talkSPORT. "I think eight out of 10 times at the moment City would beat Arsenal."

Cascarino's solution? Arsenal need Chelsea to do them a favour when Pep Guardiola's men visit Stamford Bridge next.

"I think it's really important that Chelsea, who City play next away, that Chelsea get some sort of result for Arsenal," he added. "I think they need a bit more help from other teams. I don't see Arsenal winning every game, I just don't."

The pundit acknowledged Arsenal's credentials whilst highlighting the concerning trajectory of recent weeks. "I think all Arsenal fans will be shell-shocked today at what they've witnessed. There's a good side, we know they are. They've led the way all season but for this period of the season to then look vulnerable—that would be a concern."

Meanwhile, former Arsenal defender Kieran Gibbs has offered his perspective on how Arteta might deploy teenage prospect Max Dowman during the run-in. Gibbs believes the young talent has made a compelling case for inclusion in the biggest matches, though he suspects the manager may remain cautious about deploying him as a first-choice option.

"I think he looks ready. He's not a player who really plays the occasion—he plays the game with what's in front of him," Gibbs explained. "That's why he's such a special talent because he has the ability to take in a lot of information and his speed of thought and execution is so high to at least get into the opponent's box or get a corner."

However, Gibbs reckons Arteta will likely keep Dowman as an impact option rather than a regular starter in crucial fixtures. "Will he put him in these next few Champions League and Premier League games when he's used a certain formula that hasn't involved him as much up until this point? For me, no. I don't think he will rely heavily on him. He'll probably get him in the squad and involve him, and put him in if he really needs to if they're trying to find an answer and they just can't."

Gibbs acknowledged that Dowman has nonetheless made his case for the big stage. "But at the same time, he himself has made a case to play in these big games."